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Review
. 1999 Nov;2(6):507-10.
doi: 10.1097/00075197-199911000-00013.

Benefits and dangers of iron during infection

J H Brock  1
Affiliations
Review

Benefits and dangers of iron during infection

J H Brock. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 1999 Nov.

Abstract

Iron is essential for both human and microbial metabolism, and it is therefore important that iron status is maintained at a level that permits optimal immune responses by the host but does not facilitate availability of iron to microorganisms. This paper reviews the role of iron in resistance to infection, with particular reference to malaria and hepatitis C, and discusses the desirability of iron supplementation of populations at risk of infection.

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