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Introduction
From medieval European legends of "Iron John" to American cartoons of Popeye, to the notion of getting stronger by "pumping iron," iron has always been associated with strength and vitality. However, recent research suggests that iron should be more properly associated with the nation's top two killer diseases: cancer and heart disease.
While iron is a necessary nutrient, it is needed only in small amounts. When too much iron is absorbed from the diet, it can cause a wide variety of health problems. High levels of iron are associated with an increased risk for cancer, heart disease, and other illnesses such as endocrine problems, arthritis, diabetes, and liver disease.1
Men absorb iron from the food that they eat, and once this iron is in the body it has essentially no way to get out. Women also absorb iron, however they are generally-though not completely- protected from excess iron accumulation through regular iron loss by way of menstrual blood (they lose this benefit after menopause).2 Because of the health risks associated with high levels of body iron, all men should consider having their iron levels tested.3 If the test results indicate that iron levels are too high, specific treatments and lifestyle modifications may be used to lower body iron stores to more healthy levels.
Excess Iron and Cancer
Iron acts as a cancer-promoting agent by two separate yet synergistic mechanisms: 1) by producing "free radicals," and 2) by feeding cancer cells. Iron increases the production of free radicals, and-in fact-the production of free radicals is largely proportionate to the level of iron.4 This means that the more iron there is in the body, the more free radicals will be produced and thus the greater the risk of disease, in this case, cancer. Free radicals are oxygen-containing molecules which damage (oxidize) the DNA of cells. Since DNA controls the activities of the cell, once the DNA is damaged, the cell becomes "out of control." Essentially, all cancer cells are out of control. These cancer cells then replicate and grow rapidly and eventually infiltrate and damage the body's organs. Additionally, cancer cells consume many nutrients and thereby starve the host. One of the nutrients cancer cells need most is iron. In fact, researchers now think that iron may be a "rate-limiting" nutrient for cancer cell growth.5 This means that the more iron that is available, the more the cancer cells will divide and flourish, and the better chance they have of killing the host. Recent research has shown that people with high levels of iron have an increased risk for cancer.5, 6
Excess Iron and Heart Attacks
The free radicals which are produced by iron can promote the development of heart disease. Free radicals can damage (oxidize) cholesterol in the blood. When cholesterol has been oxidized, it is much more likely to "get stuck" in the arteries and blood vessels in the body and especially in the arteries that deliver nutrients and oxygen to the heart. When too much of this cholesterol becomes stuck in the arteries, it makes the inside of the artery smaller, and less blood can get to the heart muscle. Eventually, the blood flow may become so reduced that the heart cannot receive enough oxygen and nutrients, and some of the "starved" heart tissue may die-this is called a heart attack. Heart attacks are one of the leading killers of people in this country and are a very common cause of death in men. Men who have high levels of iron are at an increased risk for heart attack.7
From medieval European legends of "Iron John" to American cartoons of Popeye, to the notion of getting stronger by "pumping iron," iron has always been associated with strength and vitality. However, recent research suggests that iron should be more properly associated with the nation's top two killer diseases: cancer and heart disease.
While iron is a necessary nutrient, it is needed only in small amounts. When too much iron is absorbed from the diet, it can cause a wide variety of health problems. High levels of iron are associated with an increased risk for cancer, heart disease, and other illnesses such as endocrine problems, arthritis, diabetes, and liver disease.1
Men absorb iron from the food that they eat, and once this iron is in the body it has essentially no way to get out. Women also absorb iron, however they are generally-though not completely- protected from excess iron accumulation through regular iron loss by way of menstrual blood (they lose this benefit after menopause).2 Because of the health risks associated with high levels of body iron, all men should consider having their iron levels tested.3 If the test results indicate that iron levels are too high, specific treatments and lifestyle modifications may be used to lower body iron stores to more healthy levels.
Excess Iron and Cancer
Iron acts as a cancer-promoting agent by two separate yet synergistic mechanisms: 1) by producing "free radicals," and 2) by feeding cancer cells. Iron increases the production of free radicals, and-in fact-the production of free radicals is largely proportionate to the level of iron.4 This means that the more iron there is in the body, the more free radicals will be produced and thus the greater the risk of disease, in this case, cancer. Free radicals are oxygen-containing molecules which damage (oxidize) the DNA of cells. Since DNA controls the activities of the cell, once the DNA is damaged, the cell becomes "out of control." Essentially, all cancer cells are out of control. These cancer cells then replicate and grow rapidly and eventually infiltrate and damage the body's organs. Additionally, cancer cells consume many nutrients and thereby starve the host. One of the nutrients cancer cells need most is iron. In fact, researchers now think that iron may be a "rate-limiting" nutrient for cancer cell growth.5 This means that the more iron that is available, the more the cancer cells will divide and flourish, and the better chance they have of killing the host. Recent research has shown that people with high levels of iron have an increased risk for cancer.5, 6
Excess Iron and Heart Attacks
The free radicals which are produced by iron can promote the development of heart disease. Free radicals can damage (oxidize) cholesterol in the blood. When cholesterol has been oxidized, it is much more likely to "get stuck" in the arteries and blood vessels in the body and especially in the arteries that deliver nutrients and oxygen to the heart. When too much of this cholesterol becomes stuck in the arteries, it makes the inside of the artery smaller, and less blood can get to the heart muscle. Eventually, the blood flow may become so reduced that the heart cannot receive enough oxygen and nutrients, and some of the "starved" heart tissue may die-this is called a heart attack. Heart attacks are one of the leading killers of people in this country and are a very common cause of death in men. Men who have high levels of iron are at an increased risk for heart attack.7
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