iron excretion
Last reviewed 01/2018
Iron losses may be:
- exogenous - excess dietary iron that has not been absorbed by the mucosal cells is excreted in the faeces
- endogenous:
- in cells desquamated from the skin and the intestinal mucosa
- from the genital tract during menstruation or pregnancy
- minimal turnover losses from the liver into bile and thence faeces
- urinary loss is usually negligible