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Scientists have helped unravel the protective – and potentially harmful – effects of iron in the body.
In a series of preliminary studies on the genetic data of more than 500,000 people, a team of international scientists, led by Imperial College London, explored the role that iron plays in more than 900 diseases .
The results reveal that not only naturally high iron levels, badociated with a lower risk of high cholesterol, are also reduced, but they also reduce the risk of burning arteries accompanied by an accumulation of fat.
However, the research, funded by the Wellcome Trust, also revealed the potential risks badociated with naturally higher iron levels. These included a higher risk of blood clots linked to slow blood flow – a common cause of stroke – and a higher risk of bacterial infection of the skin.
Dr. Dipender Gill, lead author of the Imperial School of Public Health study, said: "Iron is an essential mineral in the body and is essential for carrying oxygen in the body. Getting the right amount of iron in the body is a fine balance – too little can lead to anemia, but too much can lead to a variety of problems, including liver damage. "
Dr. Gill cautioned that the study only looked at levels of iron naturally present in the body, related to genetic variation between individuals – and had not studied the effect of taking iron supplements. He advises anyone to consult his doctor before starting – or stopping – iron supplements.
In studies, the research team used a genetic technique called Mendelian randomization to study the link between iron levels and disease risk. During this process, they screened genetic data from thousands of people to identify genetic "variants" badociated with naturally higher iron levels. They then examined whether people with these variants, called single nucleotide polymorphisms, also had a higher or lower risk for a range of conditions and illnesses, such as high cholesterol levels. and atherosclerosis.
The results, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association and PLOS Medicine, revealed that naturally higher iron levels were badociated with a reduced risk of hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis is a potentially serious disease in which the arteries become clogged with fat. This can reduce the flow of blood into the arteries and, in some cases, cause a blockage of the brain flow (triggering a stroke) or heart (triggering a heart attack).
However, the results of the same study have complicated the picture, revealing that high levels of iron may be linked to a risk of clot formation badociated with a slowing of blood flow, which may increase the risk of certain types of stroke and stroke. deep vein thrombosis.
And to add to that, studies have also revealed that higher levels of iron could also be linked to an increased risk of bacterial infections of the skin.
So what's up?
Dr. Gill stated that these results should now be examined in the context of patient trials. "These studies reveal new avenues of research and raise many questions: we still do not know how iron affects cholesterol levels, narrows arteries and forms blood clots, but we have ideas. In addition, higher iron levels can cause blood clots to form when blood flow is reduced, which may explain the increased risk of clots. "
He adds that previous research suggests that iron may also play a role in bacterial replication and virulence, which could be related to the increased risk of skin infections.
Source of the story:
Material provided by Imperial College London. Original written by Kate Wighton. Note: Content can be changed for style and length.
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