Final answer:
Sideroblastic anemia is an anemia caused by defective protoporphyrin synthesis. It is characterized by impaired heme production and abnormal red blood cell formation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sideroblastic anemia is an anemia caused by defective protoporphyrin synthesis. Protoporphyrin is a compound necessary for the production of heme, which is an essential component of hemoglobin, the molecule responsible for oxygen transport in red blood cells. In sideroblastic anemia, there is a defect in the synthesis of protoporphyrin, resulting in impaired heme production and abnormal red blood cell formation.