IRON DEFICIENCY AND EXCESS

Question 1

WHAT DISEASES DOES IRON DEFICIENCY AND EXCESS CONTRIBUTE TO?

Answer 1

THEY RANGE FROM:
DEMENTIA
METABOLIC SYNDROME
INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE
GOUT
OSTEOARTHRITIS

Question 2

WHAT IS HEMOCHROMATOSIS?

Answer 2

A GENETIC DISORDER THAT IS CHARACTERIZED BY EXCESS IRON STORAGE, AND HEMOCHROMATOSIS IS ASSOCIATED WITH A GUGE RANGE OF CHRONIC CONDITIONS.
EVEN MILD IRON OVERLOAD CAN CAUSE INCREASED MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY, SO EARLY DEATH AND DISEASE. LIKE HEMOCHROMATOSIS, IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH METABOLIC, CARDIOVASCULAR, AND NEURODEGENERATIVE PROBLEMS, ALTHOUGH NOT TO THE SAME DEGREE.

Question 3

WHAT IS THE TREATMENT FOR IRON OVERLOAD?

Answer 3

REGULARLY SCHEDULED PHLEBOTOMY

LACTOFERRIN, WHICH IS A SUPPLEMENT, CAN ALSO BE USED TO REMOVE IRON FROM THE TISSUES THAT ARE ALREADY LOADED WITH IRON.

Question 4

WHAT ARE SOME IRON OVERLOAD CONSIDERATIONS FOR CLIENTS?

Answer 4

AVOID SUPPLEMENTS THAT CONTAIN IRON.

AVOID HIGH IRON-CONTAINING FOODS SUCH AS CLAMS, CHICKEN LIVERS, OYSTERS, OCTOPUS, BEEF LIVER, VENISON, MUSSELS, AND BEEF CHUCK.

AVOID ENHANCHERS OF IRON ABSORPTION:
a. Alcohol-limit 2 per week
b. Supplemental vitamin C-limit to 200mg between
meals
c. Betaine HCI-avoid completely
d. Zinc-interferes with copper/zinc
e. Beta-carotene-may increase cancer risk

INCLUDE DIETARY CALCIUM-CAN INHIBIT THE ABSORPTION ON HEME IRON
a. Consume full-fat dairy products or bone-in fish