Higher iron levels improve heart health, but also increase the risk of stroke: study

People who regularly consume iron-rich foods may benefit from better heart health, but they may also unknowingly increase their risk of stroke.

Researchers at Imperial College London have examined the medical data of more than 500,000 people to determine the impact of iron on the evolution of more than 900 different diseases in the body.

Health effects of high levels of iron

They found that naturally high levels of iron can help reduce the risk of high cholesterol and even prevent the accumulation of fatty substances in the arteries.

However, the team also found that high levels of minerals could make people more susceptible to stroke because of the increased risk of blood clots. This also makes the skin more vulnerable to different bacterial infections.

The results show the important role that iron plays in maintaining good health, as well as the dangers of the presence of high levels of minerals in the body.

"Iron is a crucial mineral in the body and is essential for carrying oxygen in the body," said Dr. Dipender Gill, lead author of the study.

"However, getting the right amount of iron in the body is a delicate balance: too little can cause anemia, but too much can lead to a range of problems, including liver damage."

Identify the genes "iron"

With the help of a technique called Mendelian randomization, Gill and his colleagues examined the potential link between iron levels and the development of the disease. They looked for some genetic "variants", known as single nucleotide polymorphisms, that might help explain why some people naturally have naturally higher levels of iron.

The researchers also examined the likelihood that patients with single-nucleotide polymorphisms develop medical conditions, such as atherosclerosis and high cholesterol levels.

Atherosclerosis occurs when calcium, fibrin, cholesterol, fat and cellular debris accumulate in the arteries, according to the American Heart Association. The more these plaques accumulate in the arteries, the thicker the wall of the blood vessels. This significantly reduces blood flow and decreases the amount of oxygen and other nutrients circulating throughout the body.

Patients with atherosclerosis can develop other serious diseases such as severe chest pain (angina), coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease and chronic kidney disease. The condition can also lead to heart attack and stroke.

The results of the study reveal that naturally higher iron levels were indeed related to lower atherosclerosis and higher cholesterol risks.

Increased risk of stroke and skin infections

Gill and his team have also found that higher iron levels can increase the risk of clot formation badociated with slower blood flow. This can increase the risk of stroke and deep vein thrombosis. The results also showed the potential to develop different skin infections badociated with elevated levels of iron.

Although the results provide new information on the role of iron on human health, they also raise many questions. Researchers still need to understand how the mineral affects cholesterol levels, narrows arteries and causes blood to clot.

Gill theorizes that lower cholesterol levels may be badociated with reducing the risk of biting certain arteries. Higher levels of iron can also cause more blood clots when blood flow is reduced. This may help to explain why the researchers found an increase in the presence of blood clots in their study.

With regard to the increased risk of skin infections, Gill believes that iron could also play a crucial role in the replication and virulence of certain bacteria.

The results of the Imperial College London study are presented in the Journal of the American Heart Association and PLOS Medicine.

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