Portage Learning Nutrition Practice Exam

Iron is essential for oxygen transport in the blood because it is a key component of hemoglobin, the protein found in red blood cells that binds to oxygen. Each hemoglobin molecule can carry up to four molecules of oxygen, facilitating the delivery of oxygen from the lungs to the tissues throughout the body. Without adequate iron, the body cannot produce sufficient hemoglobin, which can lead to iron deficiency anemia, characterized by fatigue and decreased oxygen delivery.

Other minerals play important roles in the body; calcium is crucial for bone health and muscle function, magnesium is involved in energy production and enzymatic reactions, and sodium helps regulate fluid balance and nerve function. However, none of these minerals are directly involved in the transport of oxygen in the same essential manner that iron is.