After mentioning potential risks associated with iron intake
above necessary levels to some friends, some of whom seemed
skeptical, I gathered some of the data, which, having
collected, I thought I'd share with folks here...

This review from "Nutrition Today" (5/6/97) by two leading
researchers examines risks associated with iron and concludes
that apart from deficiencies, "There is little reason to support
a general need for iron supplementation in the diet at any age.
[...] don't expose your system to more iron than it needs."
While essential at recommended levels, iron generates toxic
oxygen radicals. It also notes that iron intake is cumulative,
since "iron accumulates in the brain with normal aging."
http://web.archive.org/web/200109010...als/iron.shtml

Iron's possible supporting role in neurological degeneration:

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (May 28, 2002):
"Whereas a decade ago thoughts of metals and Alzheimer's disease
(AD) conjured up thoughts of tossing out your aluminum cookware,
more recently, zinc, copper, and iron have been implicated in
AD pathology."
http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/full/99/11/7317

Cellular and Molecular Biology (June 2000): "In several
neurodegenerative diseases, iron accumulates at sites of
brain pathology. Since post-mortem examination cannot
distinguish whether iron accumulation caused the damage or
resulted from damage, it is necessary to manipulate iron in
animal and tissue culture models to assess its causal role(s).
[...] iron supplementation to ID rats increased damage and
microgliosis in the above regions. [...] In addition,
iron+zinc supplementation dramatically increased damage to
hippocampal CA1 whereas zinc supplementation alone had no effect."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...&dopt=Abstract

Journal of Neurochemistry (July 1992): "Iron, a transition
metal possibly involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's
disease, was tested for its toxic effects toward cultures of
dissociated rat mesencephalic cells. [...] Altogether, these
results suggest (a) that ferrous iron is a potent neurotoxin
for dopaminergic neurons as well as for other cell types in
dissociated mesencephalic cultures [...]."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...&dopt=Abstract

Professor James Connor (author of "Nutrition Today" review
quoted at top of post): "Our data had led to the discovery
that the brain's ability to mobilize iron is diminished in
Alzheimer's Disease and in specific regions of the brain
in Parkinson's Disease. This diminished iron mobilization
could lead to increased susceptibility to oxidative damage
and cell death; both of which are prominent features in
Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases."
http://www.hmc.psu.edu/depts/old%20p...y/jrconnor.htm

Current Opinion in Chemical Biology (April 4, 2000): "Data
are now rapidly accumulating to show that metallochemical
reactions might be the common denominator underlying
Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, prion
diseases, cataracts, mitochondrial disorders and Parkinson's
disease. In these disorders, an abnormal reaction between a
protein and a redox-active metal ion (copper or iron)
promotes the formation of reactive oxygen species or radicalization."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...&dopt=Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) appears to be associated with
a dysregulation of heavy metals, possibly as a result of
impairment of metallothione (the body's natural defense
against metal toxicity) that may be associated with the
ApoE genetic defect that increases the risk of AD.

Aluminum and Alzheimer's disease:
http://www.google.com/groups?selm=gq...1n%404 ax.com

Mercury and Alzheimer's disease:
http://www.google.com/groups?selm=3a...news.erols.com


http://IanGoddard.net/journal.htm

"To lengthen thy life, lessen thy meals." Ben Franklin

Ongoing CR-monkey-study update: "In the monkeys...those on
reduced feeding since the study started are dying at a rate
that is about half that of the monkeys receiving a full food
ration." Associated Press: Eating less may extend human life.
August 1, 2002 : http://www.msnbc.com/news/788746.asp?0si=-

Good way to get rid of iron is to give blood.
Anth
"Ian Goddard" <igoddard@erols.mom> wrote in message
news:bhfmiv867s916mglu8ioerf60ninn8b2hs@4ax.com...

I've also seen information that iron overload can cause heart problems -
hence the greater percentage of men having problems than women - as women
lose a lot of iron with their menses.
Iron-supplemented baby formula is SCARY.

Virginia
"Forgiveness is easier to obtain than permission."

www.thedesignuniverse.com

"Ian Goddard" <igoddard@erols.mom> wrote in message
news:bhfmiv867s916mglu8ioerf60ninn8b2hs@4ax.com...
n/minerals/iron.shtml
ds=10875437&dopt=Abstract
ds=1613493&dopt=Abstract
tm
ds=10742195&dopt=Abstract
om

"Virginia" <vodine@direct.ca> wrote:

IAN: Indeed, as well as being neurotoxic, iron may
also play a causal role in heart disease. Anything
that generates free radicals has the potential for
widespread harm. From the "Nutrition Today" review:

************************************************** *********

[...] there is growing concern that too much iron in our diets may be
related to certain diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disease, and
certain neurologic diseases. [...]

A 1992 prospective study[31] of Finnish men established that an
elevated serum level of ferritin was a significant risk factor for
acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The results of this study are
consistent with a 1972 report that serum ferritin levels are
positively correlated with heart disease.[32] Elevations in serum
ferritin can be (but are not always) reflective of high levels of
stored iron in the body. Menses in young adult women has been reported
to at least partly explain why women are generally at lower risk for
heart disease than men.

[ IAN: The implication being that the loss of iron from menstration
may reduce heart disease, as Virginia noted. Back to the review... ]

Indeed, a Framingham study showed that premenopausal hysterectomy
eliminated the protection against heart disease.[33] Estrogen
replacement therapy alone does not decrease the risk of heart disease
in women or men. Most studies on iron and heart disease focus on
excess iron. Epidemiologic studies have revealed that where iron
deficiency is prevalent in a population, there is a low prevalence of
heart disease. Obviously, the heart requires a constant supply of iron
for normal function, but there is nothing to indicate that a balanced
diet will not provide sufficient iron for normal heart activity.

One other area where increased iron has been considered to increase
cardiovascular problems has been in association with atherogenicity of
low-density lipoprotein (LDL) associated cholesterol. Earlier, we
mentioned how oxidatively damaged proteins function poorly or not at
all. Iron can cause oxidative damage to LDL, causing LDL to be rapidly
cleared from plasma.

Although at first glance, rapid removal of LDL from plasma may appear
to be a positive effect, the rapid uptake appears to present problems
for the endothelial cells surrounding the blood vessel. It is also
thought that incomplete oxidative damage to LDL may render it less
functional but also less likely to be cleared from the plasma. Iron
itself can be found within atherosclerotic lesions.

[...]

31. Salonen JT, Nyyssonen K, Korpela H, Tuomilehto J, Seppanen SR.
High stored iron levels are associated with excess risk of myocardial
infarction. Circulation 1992;86:803-11.

32. Cook JD, finch CA, Smith NJ. Evaluation of the iron status of a
population. Blood 1976;48: 449-54.

33. Gordon T, Kannel WB, Hjortland MC, McNamara PM. Menopause and
coronary disease: The Framingham Study. Ann Intern Med 1976;85:447-55.

************************************************** *********

http://web.archive.org/web/200109010...als/iron.shtml

"Virginia" <vodine@direct.ca> wrote in message
news:viqjic7mgj9sa5@corp.supernews.com...
That's in adults. It takes a decade at least to build up
that much iron.


Only to the uninformed. Unless you're still drinking it, my
dear? Maybe giving it to hubby on the side?

SBH

"Steve Harris" <sbharris@ix.RETICULATEDOBJECTcom.com> wrote in message news:<bgkhp9$ojm$1@slb6.atl.mindspring.net>...
Dr. Harris is correct in his assessment that growing babies need extra
iron to prevent iron deficiency anemia.

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
http://www.heartmdphd.com