Iron-Rich Blood and Heart Disease?

A study completed in Finland produced evidence that too much stored iron in the body is a risk for heart disease. Ferritin is the major stored form of iron in the body. Finnish men who had high blood levels of iron (more than 200 micrograms per liter of blood) were twice as likely to have a heart attack as men who had lower levels. These data seem to be consistent with animal study findings that an iron overload accelerated atherosclerosis in already damaged arteries. As a result, the hypothesis that excess iron might promote the oxidation of cholesterol into a more harmful form emerged. But data generated from several epidemiological studies in the united states were in disagreement with the finnish study. In fact, one of these long term studies showed that high iron levels actually lowered the risk of heart disease.Why the discrepancy between the american and finnish studies? Many experts are convinced that the differences are related to the major sources of iron consumption in each country. Finland is a very high meat-consuming country so that a high iron level in its people is probably reflective of their high meat intake. A high meat intake means a high intake of fat and saturated fat. Both are documented risk factors for cardiovascular disease. In the united states, people are likely to consume non meat sources of iron or take vitamin supplements that contain iron.

At this point, the recommendation regarding consumption is that there is no reason to fear iron and no clear justification for taking iron supplements if one’s iron count is normal.