The Spectrophotometer Determinationof Iron in Teff

Introduction The research question is: the spectrophotometer determination of iron in teff and a measure of the bio-availability to suggest ways in which bio-availability or absorption is increased and consequently anemia decreased. Iron is one of the most important elements that is needed by different living organisms. One of its functions is to control cell growth and aid in differentiation of cells. However, one of its most important responsibilities is found in hemoglobin. which is involved in allowing oxygen transport in portions of the blood. Iron is available in two oxidation states: Fe2+ and Fe3+. The one that is readily absorbed in the human body is Fe2+. Thus in this extended essay, I will focus on the concentration of Fe2+ in four cereals- teff, wheat, maize and sorghum. Limited amounts of absorption of Fe2+ in the human body causes iron deficiency anemia. Iron deficiency anemia is when a person has a red blood cell count that is less than normal or when there are few hemoglobin molecules in each red blood cell. Consequences and effect of this to humans could be fatigue,headaches, palpitations, lethargy and etc. One of the causes of iron deficiency anemia is the bio availability of many grains and leg umes. The less bio available or in other words the less absorbed the nutrients of the cereals we eat are, the prospect of iron deficiency anemia occurring becomes higher. I will show this need of Iron in the blood by first measuring the iron contents of the four