Posted on 06/22/2019 10:01:31 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
A global study looking at the role that iron plays in 900 diseases has uncovered the impact of both low and high iron levels—and the news is mixed.
People with high iron levels are not only protected against anaemia but are also less likely to have high cholesterol, according to an international study led by Imperial College London, the University of South Australia (UniSA) and University of Ioannina.
What is less known is the impact of excess iron where the body stores too much iron, which can lead to liver disease, heart problems and diabetes in extreme cases.
Around 25 to 65 per cent of differences between individuals in iron levels are due to genetic factors, according to UniSA geneticist Dr. Beben Benyamin, joint first author of the paper.
However, it's a double-edged sword: high iron levels could also lead to a greater risk of bacterial skin infections, such as cellulitis and abscesses.
Previous studies have found that bacteria need iron to survive and flourish, but the Biobank study is the first to use large scale population data to support the link between iron overload and bacterial skin infections.
Cellulitis affects around 21 million people each year, resulting in more than 17,000 deaths worldwide, making it a global health priority.
"We identified the previously established protective effect of higher iron status on traits related to anaemia, and further showed protective effects related to risk of high cholesterol levels and detrimental effects on risk of skin and soft tissue infections."
Clinical trials have been undertaken to manipulate iron status in anaemic patients but, to date, no trials have targeted iron levels to prevent or treat skin infections or regulate cholesterol. Trial data is essential before iron manipulation is recommended for these disorders.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Interesting.
when they outlaw iron, only outlaws will have iron
I find it interesting they never mentioned the name, “hemochromatosis”, since that is the name of the disease for when the body stores too much iron.
Cellulitis affects around 21 million people each year, resulting in more than 17,000 deaths worldwide, making it a global health priority.
That kind of comes out of left field, in the middle of the excerpt. And is it even true? Is "orange-peel skin" really fatal? And what does that have to do with iron?
Regards,
I had a friend who had high iron levels. He had to have a pint of blood drawn every month.
People who have thallessemia often get misdiagnosed and put on iron which is dangerous. Certain races are more prone to the disorder.
I am one of those lucky genetic winners
Iron consumption will lead to weight gain....
Might depend on how you take it. My parents’ water growing up was quite high in iron. The water was orange. And you had to chew it. (Okay, that part is a slight exaggeration)
Today they say you should drink "X" amount of water per day. When I was growing up, we had our own well and it was iron water too- awful. I don't EVER remember drinking it at home, the only water I ever drank was from the school drinking fountain......and I survived.
When my son got diagnosed with Crohns Disease, he needed something like nine units of iron because it was so low.
The insurance company fought us on the ninth unit because some flunky in an office thought he knew more than the Chief of Pediatric Gastroenterology at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
One of their letters said our appeal was reviewed by a nurse practitioner and some other flunky and that Iron is not normally a treatment for Speech Pathology. I wrote them back and suggested reassigning Stevie Wonder and Jose Feliciano to jobs where reading is not necessary since my son was not ever treated for speech pathology.
Never heard from them again but our bills started magically becoming more accurate.
That would never happen if the gubmint was in control of “healthcare”.
Ha! Good job
....He had to have a pint of blood drawn every month.
Was his doctor? Dracula?
Venesection is a common procedure for people with hemochromatosis.
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