Chronic iron overload and toxicity: Clinical chemistry perspective

ironjustice@aol.com · medicine forum Guru Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Posts: 1522

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Chronic iron overload and toxicity: Clinical chemistry perspective
Clinical Laboratory Science, Summer 2001 by Kang, Jae O

FOCUS: IRON OVERLOAD

The content of body iron is regulated primarily by absorption since
humans have no physiological mechanism by which excess iron is
excreted. This regulation, however, is not absolute. Many factors such
as the content of diets, iron doses, life styles, etc. influence iron
absorption. In the past, nutrition programs for iron fortification and
the ingestion of iron preparations have been widely practiced because
of the seriousness of worldwide iron deficiency. Also, we now know that
a significant number of asymptomatic people carry the hemochromatosis
gene, HFE, indicating that these people have the potential to
accumulate excess body iron in their lifetime. Excess body iron can be
highly toxic. This toxicity involves many organs leading to a variety
of serious diseases such as liver disease, heart disease, diabetes
mellitus, hormonal abnormalities, dysfunctional immune system, etc. The
tissue damage associated with iron overload is believed to result
primarily from free radical reactions mediated by iron. Iron is an
effective catalyst in free radical reactions. The diseases associated
with iron overload can be managed effectively or prevented. Therefore,
early diagnosis of iron overload and appropriate therapy are critical.
By providing the necessary laboratory data, clinical chemistry
laboratories can play the pivotal role in the management of these
health problems.

INDEX TERMS: clinical chemistry laboratories; diagnosis; free radical
reactions; hemochromatosis; iron overload; iron toxicity.

Clin Lab Sci 2001; 14(3):209

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1 . Describe the regulation of iron absorption.

2. List the three primary causes of iron overload.

3. Describe various chronic diseases associated with secondary iron
overload and the mechanisms involved.

4. Contrast the absorption process for heme iron with that for non-heme
iron.

5. List compounds in the diet that inhibit iron absorption and those
that enhance iron absorption.

6. List the organs most frequently damaged by hemachromatosis.

7. Identify the clinical chemistry laboratory procedures that would
detect damage to each of the organs most frequently damaged by
hemachromatosis.

8. Discuss the biochemical theories most often proposed to explain the
mechanisms that cause tissue damage due to excess iron.

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TC · medicine forum Guru Joined: 02 May 2005 Posts: 1814

Iron overload, is that kinda like the cartoons when a character has an
anvil fall on his head or when someone gets impaled on a metal fence or
a pipe? Stepping on a nail? Too many nose rings or piercings? Smashing
ones thumb with a hammer? I can see how that might be a health problem.

TC

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