Iron plays a number of essential roles in your body, including oxygen transport and cell growth. Around 66 percent of your iron stores remain in hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to your tissues and organs. While iron is essential, too much iron can cause serious harm, even death, the Office of Daily Supplements warns.
Causes
Genetic diseases such as hematochromatosis, which affects one in 250 people of Northern European descent, including 1 million Americans, can cause iron toxicity if not treated. Sickle cell disease, thalassemia and enzyme deficiency diseases, such as pyruvate kinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, can also cause iron toxicity. Numerous blood transfusions, excessive iron therapy and chronic alcoholism also can cause iron toxicity. Taking 200 mg of iron can kill a child, the ODS reports.
Symptoms
Symptoms of acute iron toxicity include vomiting, diarrhea or constipation. High iron stores may also cause fatigue, abdominal pain, liver disease and changes in skin color. Menstrual periods may stop in women; joint pain, diabetes, hair loss, impotence and infertility may also occur.
Risks
Some studies have linked high iron levels to an increased risk of heart disease, the ODS says. Excess iron may also increase oxidation of low-density lipoprotein, the "bad" form of cholesterol, changing it into a form more damaging to arteries that supply the heart with oxygen. High iron levels may also increase the activity of free radicals, byproducts of oxygen metabolism that may increase the risk of inflammation in blood vessels. Inflamed blood vessels can develop atherosclerosis, a buildup of plaque from elevated LDL cholesterol levels in the vessels.
Treatments
Treatments for iron toxicity include administration of deferoxamine, a drug that binds to iron so it can be excreted from your body in the urine. Phlebotomy, or removal of part of your blood, can also lower iron levels in some cases, the Iron Disorders Institute website explains.
Considerations
Since only small amounts of iron are excreted from your body, iron toxicity can occur if you take iron supplements when your iron stores are already full, the ODS explains. Adult men and postmenopausal women rarely have iron deficiencies and should not take iron supplements, the ODS adds. The recommended daily allowance of iron is 8 mg in adults. The maximum tolerable daily dose of iron is 45 mg, but this amount should never be taken without your doctor's permission.
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