Iron Supplements and Disease
ironj...@aol.com
Iron Supplements and Disease
Although the relationships are not entirely clear, high iron stores
may increase the risk of heart disease, cancer (such as breast
cancer), and Alzheimer's disease. Similarly, for those with
inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis),
the areas of the bowel that are inflamed appear to have higher
amounts
of iron.
There may be a possible connection between iron and these chronic
illnesses because iron acts as a pro-oxidant, stimulating the
damaging
effects in the body of substances known as free radicals.
High levels of iron can come from taking iron supplements or eating
too much of foods rich in iron, like red meat. The FDA reports that
taking up to 45 mg of iron per day is usually considered safe for the
general population.
However, if you have heart disease or you are at particular risk for
it (for example, you are a man over age 45, a woman who has gone
through menopause, or you have high cholesterol, diabetes, or high
blood pressure) and you take a multivitamin, it is best to make sure
that there is no more than 9 milligrams of iron per daily dose of the
vitamin.
Update Date: 8/21/2006
Updated by: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of
Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
Who loves ya.
Tom
Jesus Was A Vegetarian!
http://tinyurl.com/634q5a
Man Is A Herbivore!
http://tinyurl.com/4rq595
DEAD PEOPLE WALKING
http://tinyurl.com/zk9fk