Iron Metabolism in Human Body on Earth and in Space

The review summarizes modern concepts about iron metabolism in the human body under terrestrial conditions and during space flights. The processes of absorption, transport, deposition and excretion of iron from the body, the effect of regulatory proteins, transporter proteins and receptor proteins on the metabolism of this trace element are considered. Special attention is paid to iron metabolism among participants in ground-based model experiments simulating the effects of space flight factors, as well as among crew members of expeditions to the Mir space station and the International Space Station. The paper presents and analyzes, from a modern point of view, experimental data on the peculiarities of iron metabolism in humans under extreme conditions of vital activity.