Iron restriction

Iron restriction is the body’s removal of freely available iron from blood and extracellular fluid, as part of the systemic inflammatory response [1]. This process is mediated by hepcidin, which ‘locks’ iron into somatic cells by down-regulating the iron exporter protein ferroportin [2]. Iron accumulates within macrophages, hepatocytes and gut enterocytes, but cannot enter the circulation [1, 2] (see Fig. 1). This reduction in available iron can inhibit erythropoiesis, causing anaemia of inflammation [1]. Though previously assumed to be detrimental to health, a growing body of evidence suggests that iron restriction represents an adaptive host-defence against infection [3].