Which mineral is essential for oxygen transport in the blood?

The mineral essential for oxygen transport in the blood is iron. Iron is a critical component of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to the tissues and facilitating the return of carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs for exhalation. Each hemoglobin molecule can bind to four oxygen molecules, and without adequate iron, the formation of hemoglobin is compromised, leading to reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.

While calcium plays vital roles in bone health and muscle function, zinc contributes to various enzymatic reactions and immune function, and sodium is primarily involved in fluid balance and nerve transmission, none of these minerals directly participate in the oxygen transport mechanism within the bloodstream as iron does.