What are the side effects of high iron levels?
- Syndrome X and fatty liver caused by high insulin levels
- Liver disease
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Some forms of cancer
- Some forms of infection
- Problems with the immune system causing excess inflammation
- Excess alcohol intake
What are the side effects of taking iron?
Iron supplements are generally safe if taken as advised by your doctor, and the dosage varies depending on how severe your condition is. The most common side effects associated with iron supplements include: Constipation. Dark stools. Stomach upset ( pain, bloating, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting) Stained teeth. Metallic taste.
Is too much iron bad for You?
While iron is necessary, too much could be toxic and damage your liver, heart, and other vital organs. However, iron overload is not a concern when your iron comes from diet alone — unless you have a condition like hemochromatosis, which causes increased absorption of iron in your digestive tract.
What causes excessive iron?
These include:
- Iron poisoning: Poisoning can occur when people, usually children, overdose on iron supplements ( 5, 6 ).
- Hereditary hemochromatosis: A genetic disorder characterized by excessive absorption of iron from food ( 7 ).
- African iron overload: A type of dietary iron overload caused by high levels of iron in food or drinks. ...
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What are the symptoms of too much iron?
These signs may include:Fatigue (feeling tired a lot).General weakness.Heart flutters or irregular heartbeat.“Iron fist,” or pain in the knuckles of the pointer and middle fingers.Joint pain.Stomach pain.Unexplained weight loss.
Can too much iron make you feel weird?
Iron Supplement Side Effects Dizziness may occur as a side effect of iron supplementation. Other side effects of taking iron supplements include upset stomach, constipation, nausea and vomiting. You may become dizzy after intravenous iron injections or after taking iron supplements by mouth.
Does high iron make you tired?
Too much iron (not too little) can cause serious health problems like fatigue, joint pain, diabetes and liver disease.
What happens when your iron is high?
Excess iron builds up the heart, liver, joints, pancreas, and pituitary gland. If untreated, it can cause organ damage, and lead to a heart attack, diabetes, cirrhosis of the liver, arthritis, depression, and premature death. The mutated gene for hemochromatosis can be passed on to your offspring.
Can too much iron make you lightheaded?
Iron supplements can cause side effects like dizziness, fainting, and hives. Too many iron supplements can cause long-term side effects like liver damage and heart disease.
How do you flush iron out of your body?
Iron chelation therapy involves taking oral or injected medicine to remove excess iron from the body. Medications can include a drug that binds the excess iron before the body excretes it. Although doctors do not tend to recommend this as a first-line treatment for hemochromatosis, it may be suitable for some people.
What are warning signs of hemochromatosis?
Symptoms of hemochromatosis include:Pain in your joints, especially your knuckles.Feeling tired.Unexplained weight loss.Skin that has a bronze or gray color.Pain in your belly.Loss of sex drive.Loss of body hair.Heart flutter.More items...•
What is the most common cause of iron overload?
Hereditary hemochromatosis is caused by a mutation in a gene that controls the amount of iron your body absorbs from the food you eat. These mutations are passed from parents to children. This type of hemochromatosis is by far the most common type.
Can too much iron cause insomnia?
Interestingly, two rent genome-wide association studies showed that the MEIS1 gene, the one associated with iron status, was also associated with insomnia.
Is 65 mg of iron a day too much?
Strict vegetarians may need to take in higher levels of iron. At high doses, iron is toxic. For adults and children ages 14 and up, the upper limit -- the highest dose that can be taken safely -- is 45 mg a day. Children under age 14 should not take more than 40 mg a day.
Can too much iron cause headaches?
After those early symptoms, other serious complications can develop within 48 hours after the iron overdose, such as: dizziness. low blood pressure and a fast or weak pulse. headache.
When do symptoms of hemochromatosis appear?
Symptoms of hemochromatosis usually appear after age 50, once significant iron has accumulated in the body. Symptoms may appear later in in women, typically about 10 years after menopause.
Can you take too much iron?
While a healthy diet should be enough to help you get all the iron you need day in and day out, according to the National Institutes of Health, the...
What are the side effects of too much iron?
If you are taking in too much iron - whether it be from supplements or food intake, you may experience certain side effects, these include constipa...
What happens if you take too much iron over time?
If you are regularly taking in too much iron over a certain period of time, this might result in conditions such as iron overload and iron toxicity.
What happens if you take too much iron?
If you are taking in too much iron - whether it be from supplements or food intake, you may experience certain side effects and symptoms, these include [2]: Constipation.
What happens if you have too much iron in your heart?
If there is too much iron in the heart, it can affect the heart’s ability to circulate blood around the body; the medical term for this being congestive heart failure.
Why is my iron level high?
High iron levels can also be a result of taking too many iron supplements or simply consistently consuming foods high in iron.
How do I know if my iron levels are healthy?
A person follows a vegetarian/vegan diet. One of the most reliable ways to know if your iron levels are healthy is with a blood test.
Can you get iron from a take out meal?
If so, you might be surprised that this doesn’t just apply to your favorite take out meal - it can also apply to one of the most essential minerals: iron. From red meat to dried fruits, iron can be found in a number of different foods and you should be able to get all the iron you need from your daily diet. With that in mind, is it possible ...
Why is iron overload bad?
It is caused by the body’s regulatory system failing to keep iron levels within healthy limits. For most people, iron overload is not a concern. However, it is a problem for those who are genetically predisposed to excessive absorption of iron from the digestive tract.
What is the role of iron in the body?
It is a crucial part of hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells. Hemoglobin is responsible for delivering oxygen to all of the body’s cells . There are two types of dietary iron:
How does the body regulate iron levels?
The body regulates iron levels by adjusting the rate of iron absorption from the digestive tract. Hepcidin, the body’s iron-regulatory hormone, is responsible for keeping iron stores in balance. Its main function is to suppress the absorption of iron. Basically, this is how it works ( 4. Trusted Source.
Why is iron so tightly regulated?
There are two reasons why iron levels are tightly regulated within the body: Iron is an essential nutrient that plays a role in many basic body functions, so we must get a small amount. High levels of iron are potentially toxic, so we should avoid getting too much.
Why is iron important for the immune system?
The immune system uses iron to kill harmful bacteria, so some amount of iron is needed to fight infections. Elevated levels of free iron stimulate the growth of bacteria and viruses, so too much iron can have the opposite effect and increase the risk of infections. ).
Where is heme iron found?
Heme iron: This type of iron is only found in animal foods, mostly in red meat. It is absorbed more easily than non-heme iron. Non-heme iron: Most dietary iron is in the non-heme form. It is found in both animals and plants.
Is iron deficiency a mineral?
Trusted Source. , 2. Trusted Source. ). Many people are iron deficient, especially women. In fact, iron deficiency is the world’s most common mineral deficiency ( 3. Trusted Source. ).
What happens if you have too much iron in your blood?
Too much iron in blood can cause bothersome symptoms like extreme tiredness, headache and nausea. With the passage of time, abnormally high blood iron levels can negatively affect the heart, liver and the pancreas.
What causes iron overload?
Excess alcohol consumption and daily meals high in red meat or vitamin C rich foods (that increase your ability to absorb iron) are some of the primary contributory factors that raise the risk of iron overload. As the saying goes, everything when in excess is bad, so is iron.
Why does my liver turn yellow?
It is likely to damage the liver and cause jaundice (skin turns yellow). An enlarged liver has been associated with high blood iron levels. Liver damage due to iron build up can also manifest in the form of cirrhosis. In liver disorders, skin discoloration occurs and is often accompanied by ankle swelling.
How long does it take for iron to show up in the body?
It may take years before the person starts showing symptoms. Usually, the symptoms of this condition manifests when the person is in his 30s. It is very unlikely to experience too much iron symptoms in the early stages of life. Also, depending upon individual health and the severity of the condition, symptoms may differ.
Can high iron levels cause hypothyroidism?
Consistently high iron levels in blood can interfere with normal thyroid function and cause hypothyroidism. This side effect is relatively common in hemochromatosis patients. The pituitary gland located in the brain controls working of the thyroid gland. However, too much iron can trigger pituitary gland function, ...
Can high iron levels cause heart palpitations?
As the blood iron level shoots up, one cannot expect a healthy heart. Abnormal heart beats or irregular heart palpitations is an indication of abnormally high levels of iron in blood. Studies show that too much iron in blood for prolonged periods can tighten and contract the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart.
Can iron cause diabetes?
You might not have heard of iron-induced diabetes but this can happen when there are high levels of iron in blood. It is not clear how iron overload causes diabetes but studies indicate that too much iron induces proliferation of free radicals that may eventually reduce production of insulin.
What causes the body to absorb too much iron?
It’s called primary hemochromatosis, hereditary hemochromatosis or classical hemochromatosis. With primary hemochromatosis, problems with the DNA come from both parents and cause the body to absorb too much iron. In secondary hemochromatosis, medical treatments or other medical conditions cause ...
What causes iron overload?
Liver cancer. Liver failure. In addition, iron overload can cause: Arthritis (joint damage). Diabetes. Problems with the spleen, adrenal glands, pituitary gland, gallbladder or thyroid. Problems with the reproductive system, such as erectile dysfunction in men and early menopause in women.
How does hemochromatosis affect the body?
Produce certain hormones. Normally, your intestines absorb just the right amount of iron from the food you eat. But with hemochromatosis, the body absorbs extra iron and stores it in your organs, especially your heart, liver and pancreas.
What is the term for a condition in which your body stores too much iron?
Hemochromatosis (Iron Overload) Hemochromatosis, or iron overload, is a condition in which your body stores too much iron. It’s often genetic. It can cause serious damage to your body, including to your heart, liver and pancreas. You can’t prevent the disease, but early diagnosis and treatment can avoid, slow or reverse organ damage.
How is iron taken from the body?
It’s taken by mouth at home or injected into the blood by a healthcare provider. Therapeutic phlebotomy: This procedure uses a needle and tube to remove blood, and the iron it contains, from your body. Treatment needs to be repeated frequently, so you’ll have regular blood tests to measure iron levels.
Why do older people lose iron?
Their bodies also store less iron. Hemochromatosis is also more common in older people because iron toxicity takes years to develop. Other factors that increase the chances of developing hemochromatosis include alcohol abuse and a family history of: Arthritis.
How to help your parents with iron overload?
Ask if your parents ever had iron overload, liver disease or other related diseases. Ask if you take iron supplements, by mouth or injection. Ask if you take extra vitamin C, which can boost absorption of iron. Check your joints for pain . Listen to your heart for an irregular beat.
What causes the body to store too much iron?
Causes. Risk factors. Symptoms. Diagnosis. Treatment. Complications. Summary. Iron overload disorders are a group of medical conditions that cause the body to store excess iron. They include hereditary hemochromatosis, a genetic condition in which a person’s body absorbs too much iron from foods and drinks.
Why does iron accumulate so fast in the liver?
Research suggests that the cause is not genetic. It may happen because the mother’s immune system produces antibodies that damage the fetal liver.
What tests can detect iron overload?
These include blood tests, liver tests, MRI scans, and genetic testing . Two different types of blood test can detect iron overload, even before symptoms appear. The serum transferrin saturation test measures the amount of iron bound to transferrin — a protein that carries iron in the blood.
What are the risk factors for hemochromatosis?
The following risk factors may increase a person’s likelihood of having hemochromatosis: Genetic factors: Having two copies of a faulty HFE gene is the main risk factor for hereditary hemochromatosis. The person inherits one copy of the mutated HFE gene from each parent. H refers to high, and FE means iron.
What causes secondary hemochromatosis?
According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)#N#Trusted Source#N#, secondary hemochromatosis can result from some kinds of anemia, such as thalassemia, or chronic liver disease, such as chronic hepatitis C infection or alcohol-related liver disease.
Why do women lose iron?
The reason for this is that most females regularly lose blood during menstruation, and blood loss reduces iron levels. Males may develop symptoms at the age of about 40–60 years. Trusted Source. , and females may have symptoms after menopause.
What causes chest pain and dizziness?
congestive heart failure if too much iron builds up in the heart and the body cannot circulate enough blood. irregular heart rhythms, or arrhythmias, leading to chest pain, palpitations, and dizziness. endocrine problems, such as hypothyroidism or hypogonadism. arthritis, osteoarthritis, or osteoporosis.
What happens if you have iron overload?
People with hemochromatosis can suffer severe consequences of iron overload including liver scarring (cirrhosis), liver cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, low sex hormones and a bronzing of the skin colour. The excess iron damages various organs in the body.
How to prevent iron from causing organ damage?
It is possible to prevent the excess iron from causing organ damage by removing blood on a regular basis . The treatment of blood removal is known as venesection. It may take many months or even several years to unload the body of excess iron and the venesections must be done regularly.
Why does hemochromatosis occur?
This occurs because of a deficiency in hepcidin in the liver. Hemochromatosis is rather common and affects 1 in 200 people of Caucasian race who carry two C282Y mutations on their HFE genes.
What causes ferritin levels to go up?
Some forms of cancer. Some forms of infection. Problems with the immune system causing excess inflammation. Excess alcohol intake. If blood tests show your ferritin levels are between 300 to 1000 mcg/L, you have too much iron leaking into your blood and you could have any or several of the above causes.
What is the cause of hemochromatosis?
The inherited disorder of hemochromatosis causes severe iron excess or overload in the body. It is caused by an abnormal mutation (known as C282Y) in the HFE gene and you have to have 2 of these to have hemochromatosis.
What causes ferritin to be high?
Only 10% of cases of high ferritin are caused by hemochromatosis. Having high ferritin does not always mean that your whole body is overloaded with iron. The most common causes of high ferritin are –. Syndrome X and fatty liver caused by high insulin levels.
How much iron is absorbed by the liver?
To compensate for this daily loss of iron, the liver hormone hepcidin allows 1 to 2 mg of iron to be absorbed from food in the intestines. The balance is carefully controlled by hepcidin and it’s amazing that only 10% of daily dietary iron intake is absorbed.
Why is there so much iron in my blood?
However, hereditary hemochromatosis is most common and is the result of a mutation in a gene that controls the quantity of iron the body absorbs from the food taken.
Why is iron so high in women?
What Causes High Iron Levels In Females? Usually, too much iron levels in women can be due to hereditary hemochromatosis or some other iron loading conditions. Women in the postmenopausal period can also have high amounts of iron. The same can be seen in pregnant women.
How to lower iron levels in blood?
How To Lower Iron Levels In The Blood? 1 Lessen the consumption of foods rich in iron such as red meat and so on. 2 Regularly donating blood is one of the safest and humanitarian ways of lessening iron levels in the body. 3 Taking less vitamin C foods that are high in iron content is another sure shot way. 4 It is always better to avoid cooking in iron cookware.
Can you cook with iron cookware?
Taking less vitamin C foods that are high in iron content is another sure shot way. It is always better to avoid cooking in iron cookware. However, when all these don’t work doctors may resort to clinical methods such as removing blood from your body and so on. Many times too much iron in the blood can be managed if diagnosed early.
What happens if you have too much iron in your system?
The excess iron ends up in your organs and can damage your heart, liver, pancreas, joint and glands that make hormones.
Why is there so much iron in steak?
This time the trouble is too much iron, not too little, because of the iron overload disorder called haemochromatosis.
What are the symptoms of a bronze skin?
More advanced symptoms include osteoarthritis, hormonal changes with loss of libido, skin that has a bronze or slate grey colour, heart problems, diabetes (including bronze diabetes) and liver diseases such as cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Can a GP test for iron overload?
This includes transferrin saturation and serum ferritin. If these suggest you could have an iron overload disorder then a gene test will confirm the diagnosis.
Is iron bad for you?
However, too much iron is toxic. Excess iron gets deposited in your organs, and this then interferes with normal body functions, as well as the production of hormones that regulate your metabolism and sex drive. Not surprisingly, you don’t feel well.
Can venipuncture remove iron from the body?
The good news is that treatment for haemochromatosis is straight forward and effective. The venipuncture process (similar to becoming a regular blood donor) removes excess iron from the body.
