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The Most Prevalent Inherited Disease Hemochromatosis
Posted by: Dr. Mercola
January 09 2000 | 1,506 views

If asked to name the most prevalent inherited diseases, most people would probably suggest cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia or hemophilia. Few would even have heard of hereditary hemochromatosis. But this disease, characterized by the uptake of too much iron into a sufferer's body, affects one in every three hundred Caucasians, and one in nine is a carrier. Iron is crucial for the working of hemoglobin, the red pigment in blood that carries oxygen from the lungs to all other parts of the body. But too much iron can be as disabling as too little.

In hereditary hemochromatosis deposits of iron appear in practically every major organ, particularly the liver, pancreas and heart, resulting in complete and widespread organ failure. It was first described in 1865. The majority of patients have a Celtic ancestor who lived 60 or 70 generations ago.

Patients with hemochromatosis regularly absorb two to three times as much dietary iron as normal perons.

Nature 403, 46 (2000)

New England Journal of Medicine December 23, 1999 341:1986-1995



Dr. Mercola's Comments:
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The treatment of hemochromatosis has not changed substantially since 1950. It essentially involves theraputic phlebotomy on a regular basis. Every 500 ml of blood contains about 250 mg of iron. On average men require phlebotomy about three to four times per year and women about one to two times per year. When phlebotomy is instituted before end-stage organ damage occurs, patients can have a normal life expectancy and quality of life.

An important screening test for hemochromatosis is a serum ferritin. If that level is above 80 one should consider donating their blood until it is below 80 but above 30. This is especially important for anyone with heart disease as elevated iron levels are a very important oxidant stress that will oxidize cholesterol and accelerate atherosclerosis.

Iron can be a very damaging supplement and must be used with great caution. I would never recommend iron supplementation unless one confirms that the serum ferritin level is below 20.






 
 
 
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