The commonest form of porphyrin, found in haemoglobin and chlorophyll.
The most common type of porphyrin found in nature. It is a constituent of hemoglobin, myoglobin, most of the cytochromes, and the commoner chlorophylls.
A protein that serves as a valuable indicator for assessing one’s iron levels. Hemoglobin is comprised of a protein-heme complex, with heme being a combination of iron and protoporphyrin IX. In the normal process of red blood cell formation, protoporphyrin IX binds with iron to produce heme, which is then incorporated into hemoglobin. However, in cases of iron deficiency, an accumulation of protoporphyrin IX occurs.