IRON: THE NUMBER ONE OXIDANT
W. G. Franklin, M.D.
It is not unusual to hear about the anti-oxidants such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E, B12, B6, and folic acid. However, it is a rarity to hear about the substances they are meant to counteract, the oxidants. Oxidants bring about the oxidation or chemical transformation of LDL (the bad cholesterol) to a form that can build up in the walls of arteries. Iron is the number one oxidant present in the body. The process of rust formation is oxidation.
The evidence pointing to iron as a major culprit in the disease arteriosclerosis (atherosclerosis) is as follows:
- The rate of heart attacks in women after menopause around age 55, increases suddenly and dramatically. Hormone levels change gradually over a number of years. What changes suddenly is cessation of menses and increased iron levels!1
- The rate of heart attack increases significantly after a hysterectomy without removal of the ovaries in women from age 30 to 55. Hormone levels are unchanged. Menses ceases. Iron levels build up. 2
- Hemochromatosis is an inherited disease with increased iron deposition in almost all tissues of the body. There is a higher rate of heart attack in people with the full blown disease and also in those who are carriers (heterozygotes)3.
- A protein carrier of iron, ferritin, is elevated (>200 mcg.) in patients with heart attacks. However, since this protein can also be elevated when an inflammatory reaction occurs, some discount the importance of this finding.4
- Patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery who receive a blood transfusion have a higher 2-year mortality rate than those not receiving a transfusion.
- Hemodialysis patients have a 50% rate of death from heart attack. Because all patients with renal failure are anemic (in large part because of decreased production of erythropoetin), they receive intravenous iron weekly. They also usually receive erythropoetin (Procrit).
- Studies comparing blood donors to non-blood donors indicate a decreased risk of heart attack up to 85%.5,6,7
- “Hard” water has higher levels of iron. In counties with “hard” water the rate of heart attack is higher than in other counties.
With all this evidence against iron one might wonder why the experts have not arrived at a guilty verdict. The reason is that the evidence is circumstantial. A double-blind, controlled, prospective study is needed before a consensus can be reached in the scientific community.
In the meantime, it is reasonable and safe to take the following steps.
- Avoid iron-rich foods and vitamins fortified with iron. Even many cereals have iron added to them.
- Donate blood at least 3 times per year. Remember the needs of the country and especially our men and women in the military. Consider donating around Memorial Day, July 4, and Veterans Day. Call the Red Cross at 1-800-GIVE-LIFE and schedule your donation.
- Avoid “hard” water.
- At present, the best choice appears to be to refrain from chelation, a treatment whereby a substance that reduces mineral content is administered intravenously. Studies fail to show a consistent benefit with chelation. This may be due to the fact that the usual agent utilized is EDTA, one that does not remove significant amounts of iron.
Literature Cited
1. Magnusson, Magnus, et al. Iron metabolism and coronary heart disease. Primary Card. 1995; 21(12):17-20.
2. Sullivan, J.L. The iron paradigm of ischemic heart disease. Am. Heart J. 1989; 117:1177-1188.
3. Sullivan, J.L. Heterozygous hemochromatosis as a risk factor for premature MI. Med. Hypotheses. 1990 Jan; 31(1):1-5.
4. Moroy, C., et al. Elevated serum ferritin level in acute MI. Biomed Pharmacother 1997; 51(3):126-130.
5. Tuomainen, T., et al. Cohort study of relation between donating blood and risk of MI in 2682 men in eastern Finland. Brit. Med. J. March 1997; 314;: 793-794.
6. Salonen, J.T., et al. Donation of blood is associated with reduced risk of MI. Am. J. Eped. Sept. 1998; 148(5): 445-451.
7. Meyers, D.G., et al. Possible association of a reduction in cardiovascular events with blood donation. Heart Aug. 1997; 78(2): 188-193.
8. Knudtson, Merril., et al. Chelation therapy for ischemic heart disease. JAMA. Jan. 23, 2002; 287(4), 481-485.