Which mineral is stored by the liver?

Study liver anatomy and function with our medical students test. Engage with detailed multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Prepare effectively for your test!

Iron is stored by the liver. It is kept mainly in the form of ferritin and, when iron is in excess, hemosiderin, inside hepatocytes and Kupffer cells. Ferritin serves as a readily mobilizable storage pool, allowing iron to be released when the body needs it—for example, for heme synthesis in red blood cells. The liver also produces hepcidin, a hormone that helps regulate iron balance by limiting intestinal iron absorption and iron release from macrophages. In contrast, calcium is stored mainly in bone, magnesium in bone and soft tissues, and sodium is largely distributed in extracellular fluid, not stored by the liver.