Iron deficiency is extremely common and can be one of the causes of anemia. However, too much iron can be a problem as well and is known as iron overload. Iron overload is associated with metabolic disorders, gout, cardiovascular disease, hormone problems, immune imbalances, and musculoskeletal disorders.

Iron is an essential micronutrient and serves many functions in the body and helps deliver oxygen to tissues through hemoglobin (blood) or myoglobin (muscle). Iron is not absorbed by the body, it first has to be oxidized to form ferric oxide, then it hits the stomach acid and becomes ferrous iron where it then gets absorbed in the GI tract. Most iron is found in the hemoglobin (70%) and about 15% is in myoglobin. A small amount circulates in the serum, and the rest is stored.

Ferritin is a storage molecule and when supplies are ample, iron gets stored in ferritin. This is important to know because if you are doing a blood panel, ferritin is a marker that is a strong indicator of your iron levels. Serum iron is the least sensitive marker for iron levels. This is because many things can offset the serum iron levels, such as alcohol, drugs, oral contraceptives, aspirin, metformin, stress and sleep deprivation.

Ferritin is the first marker to go out of range, but there is something else to know about ferritin. Bacteria and viruses can proliferate when they have access to iron, so the body wisely locks up iron in ferritin to protect the body. So if you are ill, ferritin levels will rise. In this way, ferritin is a marker for inflammation.

So what happens when iron levels are too high? Symptoms can include extreme fatigue, joint pain, palpitations, abdominal pain, depression, impotence, and skin bronzing. Some causes of iron overload include hereditary hemochromatosis (mutation of gene C282Y or H63R), sickle-cell anemia, alcohol abuse, viral hepatitis, iron supplementation, or a diet high in iron. Substances that increase iron absorption include:

Foods high in vitamin C
Foods high in beta carotene
HCL supplements
Meat (particularly red)
Sugar
Alcohol

So if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s best to get a blood panel and find out your iron status. Remember, serum iron is the least sensitive marker so a full iron panel that includes ferritin would be more precise.

If you’ve done a 23 and me genetic test, you can find out if you are susceptible to hemochromatosis. To find out, fill out the form below for a free download:

Iron Overload