Though your body relies on iron to transport oxygen in your blood and to generate energy, recent research suggests that high iron levels may contribute to breast cancer. Your body stores unused iron as ferritin in the liver, bone marrow, muscles and spleen. Elevated amounts of stored iron can be toxic and possibly carcinogenic. An overload of iron from food sources or supplements may also increase breast cancer risk.
Iron Overload after Menopause
Elevated iron levels after menopause may put you at risk for breast cancer. Before menopause, you shed extra iron through menstrual bleeding. After menopause, iron accumulates in your body, potentially leading to iron overload. A study by Xi Huang, Ph.D., published in a 2008 issue of "Lancet Oncology" points to a connection between elevated iron levels and an increased rate of breast cancer after menopause. In premenopausal women, low iron levels can create conditions that increase the chance of breast cancer recurrence. Huang's research shows that iron levels may affect your breast cancer risk at any phase of your cycle, making it crucial to maintain the right iron balance throughout your life.
Iron Overload from Diet
High quantities of iron in breast tissue may promote tissue changes that lead to malignant breast tumors, report Amber B. Moore, Ph.D., and colleagues in a study published in the "International Journal of Cancer " in 2009. The researchers studied a group of Chinese women who had high concentrations of iron their breast tissues at the time they were diagnosed with benign breast disease. The study found that high amounts of stored iron in breast tissue created conditions that encouraged benign fibrocystic changes. The study also examined the amounts of dietary iron that the women were consuming. Women with fibrocystic breast changes and a higher dietary iron intake were more likely to develop breast cancer.
Significance
Iron deficiency is a concern for all women, especially in childbearing years. The blood loss that occurs during menstruation and pregnancy can lead to anemia, which can drain your energy and leave you chronically weak and short of breath. Getting too much iron, either in your food or as supplements, can be equally risky. The recommended daily allowance for women between 19 and 50 years old is 18 mg per day; amounts increase if you're pregnant or nursing. For women over 50, the recommended amount decreases to 8 mg per day. Consult your health care provider to make sure you're taking the amount that's right for you.
Potential
An understanding of the way iron levels impact premenopausal and postmenopausal women could help reduce the risk of breast cancer caused by iron overload or other nutritional imbalances, says Huang. Moore's study demonstrates the importance of further research to identify how stored and dietary iron encourage tumor growth in breast tissue.
Implications
The researchers who performed these studies agreed that more investigation is necessary to identify the link between iron and breast cancer. An association between high iron and breast cancer could change the way you consume this vital mineral and require closer monitoring of your iron levels. Speak with your health care provider before using supplements to boost your iron intake.
