Excess Iron Can Pose Health Hazard

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Excess Iron Can Pose Health Hazard

Q: Is is possible to decrese high iron levels in the blood without

regularly drawing blood?

 

A: Excessive iron build-up in the blood is a condition called

hemochromatosis. Humans need iron to transport oxygen via red blood

cells, but too much iron can be toxic and result in health

conditions such as diabetes, heart and liver disease and pituitary

failure.9

 

Because humans have no process for excreting excess iron (other than

menstruation), it is important to pay attention to the amount of

iron ingested through foods and supplements.

 

Nutrition programs in the United States and abroad often include

iron-fortified foods and supplments because iron deficiency is

relatively frequent and serious. However, although iron deficiency

is a significant health issue, iron overload poses a serious problem

as well. Many asymptomatic people carry the hemochromatosis gene,

which increases the potential to accumulate excess iron in the body.

It is a slow and insidious process that generally goes undiagnosed

until middle age.

 

The only means of reducing iron in the blood to normal levels is

through blood extraction. People with hemochromatosis would have to

give blood only once or twice a year thereafter. These people should

avoid taking iron supplements or iron-fortified foods and eliminate

iron-rich foods, such as red meat, liver, oysters and clams, and

even stop cooking in iron pots. In general, the only people who may

require additional dietary iron are children and pregnant and

menstruating women. The first two groups need iron for blood cell

productiom and the third group for replenishing monthly iron loss.

Men and postmenopausal women do not need iron supplementation unless

they have been diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia.

 

Dan Lukaczer, N.D., is director of clinical research at the

Functional Medicine Research Center, a division of Metagenics Inc.,

in Gig Harbor, Wash.

 

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