A patient with a mutation affecting intestinal copper absorption also exhibits anemia resistant to iron supplementation. Which mechanism explains why iron supplements fail to resolve the anemia?

💡 Explanation

Copper is required for the proper function of ceruloplasmin, which oxidizes iron for transport via transferrin. Because a copper deficiency impairs ceruloplasmin activity, iron cannot be properly mobilized from storage, therefore iron supplementation will not resolve the anemia; rather than hepcidin-mediated sequestration or primary erythropoietin deficiency.

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