Iron, B12 and folate

Iron, vitamin B12 and folate are required for essential metabolic functions in the body. The deficiency states of these nutrients are clinically important because they are common conditions; untreated, they can cause severe morbidity and, previously in the case of pernicious anaemia, mortality. Although disordered haemopoiesis is a frequent finding in iron, B12 and folate deficiency, widespread effects in other organ systems may also occur and may precede the appearance of haematological abnormalities. Despite long-established essential biochemical aspects of the metabolism of these nutrients, the application of molecular methods to this field has greatly increased our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in their physiology. Furthermore, they have contributed to our understanding of disease processes related to disturbances in the metabolic pathways.