Summary
• Hepcidin is the principal iron-regulatory hormone that controls the absorption of dietary iron and its distribution between stores and extracellular fluid.
• Hepcidin acts by binding to the sole known cellular iron efflux channel, ferroportin, and inducing its internalization and degradation, and thereby inhibits the efflux of iron from cells.
• Hepcidin synthesis and release are induced by iron loading or inflammation and inhibited by increased erythropoietic activity or hypoxia.
• Hereditary hemochromatosis is due to the deficiency of hepcidin or rarely due to resistance to the effects of hepcidin.
• Increased hepcidin concentrations from inflammation, genetic diseases, or tumor production lead to iron-restricted anemia refractory to oral iron.