Hemochromatosis: When Your Body Has Too Much Iron

Your body needs iron to build red blood cells. Too much iron, though, can damage organs. Hemochromatosis is a condition that causes your body to absorb too much iron. The extra iron is stored in your heart, liver, pancreas and other organs. This can cause serious damage.

Hemochromatosis can lead to heart failure, liver disease and diabetes if it is not treated.

What causes it?
The most common form of this condition is inherited. It is a genetic defect passed down from your parents. You can also get it as a result of conditions such as alcoholism or from the treatment of anemia (iron deficiency). If you have family members with hemochromatosis, ask your doctor to be tested for it. This could help you avoid organ damage.

Symptoms and treatment
Too much iron in the body can cause symptoms that include fatigue, joint pain and weight loss. A simple blood test can detect the condition.

Treatment is relatively simple and works well to stabilize iron levels. It involves getting rid of excess iron by removing blood from your body. This process, called phlebotomy, is also used when you donate blood.

In phlebotomy, a pint of blood is removed once or twice a week until your iron levels return to normal. This usually takes several months. After that, you'll need to repeat this a few times per year, and likely for the rest of your life.

Also, if you have already developed complications such as diabetes or heart failure, you'll need ongoing treatment for them.

Reducing iron intake
If you have hemochromatosis, you may need to reduce your intake of iron. The best way is to cut back on certain foods that affect how your body absorbs iron.

• Eat less red meat - it's high in iron.
• Drink alcohol in moderation - alcohol increases the absorption of iron.
• Avoid sugary foods and beverages - sugar increases the absorption of iron.
• Drink coffee or tea with meals - substances in these drinks, called tannins, reduce the absorption of iron.

Related Articles Iron Deficiency Anemia

External Sources National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). National Institutes of Health. Accessed July 25, 2007. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Iron overload and hemochromatosis. Accessed July 25, 2007.

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