Hemochromatosis (Iron Overload)
What is Hemochromatosis (Iron Overload)?
Hemochromatosis is a condition where your body absorbs too much iron from the food you eat. Your body needs iron to make healthy red blood cells, but too much iron becomes toxic. The excess iron builds up in organs like your liver, heart, pancreas, and joints.
Most cases are caused by a genetic mutation you inherit from your parents. This mutation tells your body to absorb more iron than it needs. Over time, the stored iron damages tissue and can lead to serious problems like liver disease, diabetes, and heart failure.
The good news is that hemochromatosis can be managed when caught early. Regular blood tests help you monitor your iron levels. Treatment is straightforward and focuses on removing excess iron before it harms your organs.
Symptoms
Many people with hemochromatosis have no symptoms in the early stages. When symptoms do appear, they often develop gradually and may include:
- Persistent fatigue and weakness
- Joint pain, especially in the hands and knees
- Abdominal pain
- Loss of sex drive or erectile dysfunction
- Irregular or absent menstrual periods
- Bronze or gray skin color
- Elevated blood sugar or diabetes
- Heart problems or irregular heartbeat
- Liver problems or cirrhosis
Symptoms typically appear between ages 30 and 50 in men and after age 50 in women. Many people discover they have hemochromatosis through routine blood work before symptoms begin.
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Causes and risk factors
The most common cause of hemochromatosis is inheriting two copies of a mutated HFE gene, one from each parent. This genetic mutation is most common in people of Northern European ancestry. The mutation disrupts the way your body regulates iron absorption in the intestines, causing you to absorb 2 to 3 times more iron than normal.
Risk factors include having a family history of hemochromatosis, being of white European descent, and being male. Men develop symptoms earlier because women lose iron through menstruation and pregnancy. Other less common causes include repeated blood transfusions, liver disease, or other rare genetic disorders that affect iron metabolism.
How it's diagnosed
Hemochromatosis is diagnosed through blood tests that measure your iron levels. The key tests include serum iron, Total Iron Binding Capacity, or TIBC, and transferrin saturation. In hemochromatosis, transferrin saturation is typically elevated above 45 to 50 percent because your blood proteins are saturated with excess iron. TIBC is usually decreased as transferrin becomes loaded with iron. Ferritin levels are also measured to see how much iron is stored in your body.
Rite Aid offers blood testing that includes TIBC to help screen for iron overload. Testing is available at Quest Diagnostics locations nationwide. If your results show elevated iron markers, your doctor may recommend genetic testing to confirm the diagnosis and liver tests to check for organ damage.
Treatment options
- Therapeutic phlebotomy, or blood removal, typically once or twice per week initially to reduce iron stores
- Maintenance phlebotomy every 2 to 4 months once iron levels normalize
- Avoiding iron supplements and vitamin C supplements, which increase iron absorption
- Limiting alcohol to reduce risk of liver damage
- Eating a balanced diet without excessive red meat or iron-fortified foods
- Avoiding raw shellfish, which can carry bacteria that thrive in high iron environments
- Iron chelation therapy for people who cannot tolerate phlebotomy
- Regular monitoring of liver function and blood sugar levels
- Screening family members for the genetic mutation
Concerned about Hemochromatosis (Iron Overload)? Get tested at Rite Aid.
- Simple blood draw at your nearest lab
- Results in days, not weeks
- Share results with your doctor
Frequently asked questions
Hemochromatosis is a genetic condition that causes your body to absorb too much iron from food over your entire lifetime. High iron can be temporary and caused by diet, supplements, or other medical conditions. Hemochromatosis requires ongoing management, while temporary high iron often resolves when you stop taking supplements or address the underlying cause.
Hemochromatosis cannot be cured because it is a genetic condition. However, it can be effectively managed with regular blood removal to keep iron levels in a safe range. When caught early and treated properly, most people with hemochromatosis live normal, healthy lives without organ damage.
If you have hemochromatosis, your doctor will test your iron levels frequently during initial treatment, often every 1 to 2 weeks. Once your iron levels are normal, you may need testing every 2 to 3 months during maintenance therapy. People with a family history should consider screening once in early adulthood.
Untreated hemochromatosis can cause serious organ damage over time. Excess iron can lead to liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, diabetes, heart failure, irregular heart rhythms, and severe arthritis. Early detection and treatment prevent these complications by removing excess iron before it damages your organs.
Hemochromatosis is one of the most common genetic disorders in people of Northern European descent. About 1 in 200 to 300 people have two copies of the gene mutation. However, not everyone with the mutation develops symptoms because other factors like diet and gender influence iron accumulation.
You do not need to avoid iron-rich foods completely, but you should eat them in moderation. Avoid iron supplements and vitamin C supplements, which boost iron absorption. Limit alcohol to protect your liver. Most people focus on phlebotomy rather than strict dietary restrictions to manage their iron levels.
Yes, women can get hemochromatosis, but they typically develop symptoms later than men. Women lose iron through menstruation and pregnancy, which naturally reduces iron stores. After menopause, women with the genetic mutation may start accumulating dangerous levels of iron and need treatment.
Phlebotomy is the medical term for removing blood from your body, similar to donating blood. A healthcare worker inserts a needle into your vein and collects a pint of blood. Most people feel only a brief pinch when the needle goes in and experience no significant pain during the procedure.
Yes, if you have hemochromatosis, your siblings and children should get tested. They have a higher chance of carrying the gene mutation. Early detection allows family members to start treatment before organ damage occurs. A simple blood test can screen for elevated iron levels and genetic testing can confirm the mutation.
Blood donation policies for people with hemochromatosis vary by location and blood bank. Some blood centers accept donations from people with hemochromatosis because the blood is safe and useful. However, therapeutic phlebotomy is typically done at a medical facility rather than a blood donation center to ensure proper medical monitoring.