Where is the majority of dietary iron absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract?
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Correct answer: Duodenum and upper jejunum
Iron absorption occurs primarily in the proximal small intestine (duodenum). Conditions like Celiac disease or surgical bypass of the duodenum can significantly impair iron uptake and lead to deficiency.
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More Iron Deficiency Anemia questions
- What happens to the Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) in the early stages of iron deficiency anemia?
- Which form of dietary iron is most easily absorbed by the human gut?
- Which of the following would you expect to see on a bone marrow biopsy stained with Prussian Blue in a patient with iron deficiency anemia?
- Which enzyme's activity is directly impaired by a lack of iron, contributing to the symptoms of iron deficiency beyond just anemia?
- Free Erythrocyte Protoporphyrin (FEP) levels increase in iron deficiency anemia because:
- A patient with iron deficiency anemia is started on oral ferrous sulfate. Which of the following is the first sign of an effective response…