Page 60 - The Miracle of the Blood and Heart

THE MIRACLE OF THE
BLOOD AND HEART

ous means and is absorbed from the small intestine, combines
with apotransferrin, the iron transport protein, and is then
transported in the blood plasma. Iron binds loosely to apo-
transferrin and can be released at any point in the body and in
any tissue cell. The absorption of iron by the cells is to a large
extent controlled by apotransferrin, which not only carries the
iron molecule in the blood, but also deposits it by entering the
cell.
After the liver has become saturated with iron, the liver
produces less apotransferrin. In other words, the liver deter-
mines the body's need and regulates production accordingly,
reducing the iron transport process in the bloodstream. 29
In this situation, we once again witness the presence of a
highly regulated communication system within the body. An
excessive accumulation of iron in the tissues would lead to the
most severe disorders. However, through the control mecha-
nism created by God as a blessing, the level at which produc-
tion needs to be carried out is clear. This sensitive measurement
is constantly performed in the body, to determine which of the
100 trillion cells in the body stands in need of how much iron.
Requirement-based production is at the same time a sav-
ing of effort, since the rate of iron absorption in the body is
rather slow—at most, just a few milligrams a day. This means
that even if the body takes in excessive amount of iron
through the nourishments, only a small part of it will actually
be used.
The remainder is not wasted, however. Even if the body no
longer requires the excess iron ions floating in the blood-
stream, they are stored for later use. All the cells in the
body, especially the liver cells, store this excess iron
Harun
Yahya

58