Iron is the necessary molecule for cellular metabolism and is an imperative nonorganic substance that plays a major role inoxygentransport short-term oxygen storage. electron transfer DNA synthesis and cell cycle phase transitioning. Iron’s physiological importance however is primarily determined by its oxidative state where it has the ability to change between its ferrous (Fe2+) and ferric (Fe3+) form. Human hepcidin is predominantly produced by hepatocytesas a 25 amino acid peptide (2789.4 Da) that is secreted into the circulation.