Macro- and microelements are necessary for the human body, they are involved in all processes of its life. Today we will talk about iron. Without this element, which is involved in the processes of hematopoiesis, the formation of hemoglobin and red blood cells, it will be impossible to supply tissues and organs with oxygen. Iron deficiency contributes to the development of very serious diseases. But today I want to consider the other side of this issue: what happens if there is an excess of iron? Let's find out what this can lead to and what are the reasons for the increased level of iron in the blood.
The norm of the content and the role of iron in human blood
Our body does not produce iron, it comes from food. The process of absorption occurs in the liver, and then from there the element enters the bloodstream with the help of transferrin protein. Iron is an essential component in the synthesis of hemoglobin, the protein that makes up red blood cells. And, as everyone knows, it is erythrocytes that supply all organs with oxygen. without oxygencells die quickly.
Another important function of iron is its participation in the synthesis of myoglobin protein. This protein is contained in the composition of muscle tissue, helping it to contract, and also, together with other elements, is involved in metabolic processes. The thyroid gland also needs iron to function properly. Without iron, the process of cholesterol metabolism is impossible. Another important function of this element is to strengthen the body's immune defenses.
Iron content in the body of men and women
To provide them for the body, a person should consume 25 mg of iron daily with food. The content of iron in men and women in the blood is not the same, this is due to genetic characteristics. The norms of iron in the blood are as follows:
- Men - 40-150 mcg/dl.
- For women - 50-160 mcg/dl.
Iron in the blood is increased - what does it mean?
The maximum level of this mineral in the blood of a he althy person is 5 g. A significant excess of this norm can lead to unpleasant and sometimes disastrous consequences for the body.
It should be noted that iron is the strongest oxidant. It reacts with free radicals. And this leads to rapid aging of the whole organism and its cells. The process of oxidation of iron with oxygen leads to the formation of free radicals, which contribute to the occurrence of cancer. What are the reasons for the increase in iron in the blood in women? For example, according to statistics, women who have haddiagnosed with breast cancer, iron levels far above normal.
In the body of men, iron accumulates much faster, provoking the development of various heart diseases in them, several times increasing the risk of a heart attack at a young age. After menopause, when women stop losing their monthly blood loss, they also increase their iron storage, which increases their risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
Remove iron from the body
It should be noted that iron, unlike most other macronutrients, is not excreted naturally from the body. Thus, all the iron that is not used by the body in the process of life and not removed from it (ie, no more than 1 mg per day) begins to accumulate in it. A decrease in its amount can occur with any blood loss or during starvation, when, due to the lack of external supply of necessary substances, the body has to use its own reserves for its functioning.
Causes and meaning of elevated iron levels
As you already understood, high levels of iron in the blood can lead to unpleasant consequences. If, nevertheless, your analyzes showed similar results, you should identify the cause of the increase and try to reduce the level. Let's try to understand the reasons that can lead to an increase in the blood content of this element. As practice has shown, uncontrolled intake of multivitamins leads to similar results.preparations containing iron. But there are diseases that can also lead to similar results.
Diseases that lead to excess iron
Such illnesses include:
- Primary hemachromatosis is a hereditary disease accompanied by a violation of the body's metabolic processes with the participation of iron. Iron is actively absorbed in the intestines, its huge reserves are created, while its excretion in a natural way completely stops. Hemachromatosis is a severe disease accompanied by severe forms of heart failure, diabetes mellitus, edema and joint diseases, cirrhosis of the liver, etc.
- Hemolytic anemia. With this disease, red blood cells in the blood are rapidly destroyed, the hemoglobin contained in them enters the blood plasma. The bone marrow and spleen over-produce new batches of red blood cells, which are also destroyed, which can eventually deplete the body's reserve forces and lead to its death.
- Hepatitis (acute or chronic), with these diseases, the blood contains large amounts of bilirubin.
- Thalassemia is a severe genetic disease characterized by the synthesis of tetrameric hemoglobin instead of dimeric.
- Jade is a pathology of the kidneys, in which the excretion of waste products from the body, including iron, is disturbed.
- Poisoning with lead compounds, accompanied by active destruction of red blood cells.
- Aplastic anemia.
- Hypoanemia.
- Hyperchromic anemia. Its causes are insufficient intake of folic acid and B vitamins. Without their intake, the process of hemoglobin synthesis is impossible, this leads to the fact that an excess of unbound iron is formed in the body.
From the above, we can conclude that an increase in iron in the blood can be a symptom of a rather severe pathology.
Symptoms of increased iron levels in the human body
In addition to the general symptoms of malaise, diseases accompanied by an increase in iron in the blood are characterized by specific symptoms:
- Delayed puberty in adolescents.
- Fatigue, weakness, drowsiness.
- Bradycardia (in an adult it is 60-70 beats per minute).
- Liver enlarged and painful on palpation.
- Pigmentation on the skin.
- Pain in the joints.
- Active weight loss without increasing exercise and diet.
- Weakening and hair loss.
- Increase in blood sugar.
If you find such symptoms in yourself, you should immediately contact a specialist and take a blood test for elevated iron. The day before the test, alcohol, fried and fatty foods should be excluded from the diet. You can not use drugs. If preparations containing iron were taken, the analysis should be carried out no earlier than one and a half weeks after the end of treatment.
What to do with high iron levels?
While you are waiting for the results of the analysis, review your diet, limit foods containing iron. Consult with other specialists to rule out liver and heart disease. You should check the hormonal background, as some hormones can also lead to an increase in iron in the blood. It is necessary to give up alcohol, especially if you have a history of cirrhosis of the liver.
Interaction with toxic substances should be stopped even if they are related to the field of professional activity.
Don't use iron utensils for cooking. It is necessary to test the water from the local water supply for iron content and, if its content is elevated, limit the use of this water. If iron levels continue to rise, it may be due to lung infections, lupus. Control tests are given at least once a month. Following these steps will help you maintain your he alth. We have considered the main reasons for the increase in iron in the blood.
Treatment
Reducing the level of iron in the blood should begin with your diet. You need to know that calcium contributes to the deterioration of the absorption of iron. Foods containing iron, as well as B vitamins and vitamin C, should be excluded from the diet.
In case of iron intoxication due to the intake of iron-containing preparations of more than 30 mg/kg, gastric and intestinal lavage is carried out. Medical bloodletting is also prescribed, when half a liter of blood is released to the patient once a month.
Treatment should be repeated after four months.
In order to avoid the development of anemia, the patient is prescribed "Deferoxamine" - 20-30 mg / kg per day for prophylactic purposes. A synthetic hormone was also synthesized, which does not have hormonal activity, but contributes to the rapid removal of iron from the body. If the disease is accompanied by one of the types of anemia, a separate treatment with pyridoxine in combination with ascorbic acid is prescribed.
Thus, from this article we learned what an increase in iron in the blood can lead to.
