Excess levels of iron in the body have been found to promote the development of tuberculosis (TB), a deadly disease that kills about 2 million people a year.
In previous studies conducted in Africa, it has been suggested that iron levels are associated with the reproduction of the mycobacterium tuberculosis, as those who consumed large quantities of iron were at a greater risk from TB.
Mice that were specially bred to be more sensitive to TB were used in the study. The mice lacked a part of the immune system, the beta-2 microglobin gene, which includes "killer T-cells" and MHC molecules, both of which are thought to be necessary in fighting the disease.
However, researchers say that mice that lack T-cells only, rather than the beta-2 microglobin gene, are less sensitive to TB. Beta-2 microglobin plays a role in the function of HFE, a protein that controls the body's intake of iron into cells. If HFE is lacking, it leads to hematochromatosis, a hereditary condition characterized by an overload of iron in the body's cells.
In the study, the altered mice were infected with TB, then treated with an iron-binding protein, lactoferrin, to remove excess iron. After the iron was removed, the amount of TB bacteria in the mice decreased, while normal mice given high levels of iron became more vulnerable to the disease.
Findings indicate that iron is an essential element in the reproduction of mycobacterium tuberculosis, a discovery that, researchers say, could aid in developing new treatments for TB.
Journal of Experimental Medicine December 2002;196:1507-1513
TB is not a major issue for many readers of this newsletter, but 2 million deaths per year is a significant amount of deaths. Anyone with TB might want to consider having their iron levels evaluated by checking their serum ferritin level.
Iron has been known to be associated with infection for 30 years.[1] [2] [3] It appears that iron chelators have great potential to become an important tool for fighting bacterial and viral infections.[4] When excess iron is present, the body's normal antibacterial mechanisms become severely compromised.[5] [6] [7]
It seems clear that high iron levels will impair your ability to fight any infection. If you struggle with chronic infections and are a man or postmenopausal woman it would be wise to have your ferritin level checked.
If this level is above 150, you are in potentially dangerous territory. If you find that your iron levels are elevated, the best way to reduce them is to donate your blood.
Related Articles:
Women Can Have Too Much Iron How to Diagnose Iron Overload Iron Can Have Devastating Effects on Your Health
Women Can Have Too Much Iron
How to Diagnose Iron Overload
Iron Can Have Devastating Effects on Your Health
References:
[1] Weinberg ED. Role of iron in host-parasite interactions. J Infect Dis. 1971 Oct;124(4):401-10 [2] Weinberg ED. Iron and susceptibility to infectious disease. Science. 1974 May 31;184(140):952-6 [3] Weinberg ED. Roles of metallic ions in host-parasite interactions. Bacteriol Rev. 1966 Mar;30(1):136-51 [4] Marx JJ. Iron and infection: competition between host and microbes for a precious element. Best Pract Res Clin Haematol. 2002 Jun;15(2):411-26. [5] Ward CG, Bullen JJ, Rogers HJ. Iron and infection: new developments and their implications. J Trauma. 1996 Aug;41(2):356-64. [6] Bullen JJ. The significance of iron in infection. Rev Infect Dis. 1981 Nov-Dec;3(6):1127-38 [7] Wooldridge KG, Williams PH. Iron uptake mechanisms of pathogenic bacteria. FEMS Microbiol Rev. 1993 Nov;12(4):325-48. [8] Pradines B, Rolain JM, Ramiandrasoa F, et al. Iron chelators as antimalarial agents: in vitro activity of dicatecholate against Plasmodium falciparum. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2002 Aug;50(2):177-87. [9] Mintzer CL, Deloron P, Rice-Ficht A, et al. Reduced parasitemia observed with erythrocytes containing inositol hexaphosphate. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1988 Mar;
[1] Weinberg ED. Role of iron in host-parasite interactions. J Infect Dis. 1971 Oct;124(4):401-10
[2] Weinberg ED. Iron and susceptibility to infectious disease. Science. 1974 May 31;184(140):952-6
[3] Weinberg ED. Roles of metallic ions in host-parasite interactions. Bacteriol Rev. 1966 Mar;30(1):136-51
[4] Marx JJ. Iron and infection: competition between host and microbes for a precious element. Best Pract Res Clin Haematol. 2002 Jun;15(2):411-26.
[5] Ward CG, Bullen JJ, Rogers HJ. Iron and infection: new developments and their implications. J Trauma. 1996 Aug;41(2):356-64.
[6] Bullen JJ. The significance of iron in infection. Rev Infect Dis. 1981 Nov-Dec;3(6):1127-38
[7] Wooldridge KG, Williams PH. Iron uptake mechanisms of pathogenic bacteria. FEMS Microbiol Rev. 1993 Nov;12(4):325-48.
[8] Pradines B, Rolain JM, Ramiandrasoa F, et al. Iron chelators as antimalarial agents: in vitro activity of dicatecholate against Plasmodium falciparum. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2002 Aug;50(2):177-87.
[9] Mintzer CL, Deloron P, Rice-Ficht A, et al. Reduced parasitemia observed with erythrocytes containing inositol hexaphosphate. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1988 Mar;