Consuming the proper minerals is important to prevent and avoid certain diseases, but some minerals or an excess of them may lead to liver problems. The liver is an organ on the right side of your abdomen that acts to digest food and absorb nutrients. It also helps to rid your body of toxic waste and keep your body healthy. If left untreated, liver problems can lead to serious health complications. It is important to be aware of the proper intake of minerals that may pose a risk to your liver health.
Iron
Iron is a mineral that may lead to liver problems if it is present in your blood in toxic amounts. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, an excess amount of iron in the tissues can be caused by genetic disorders, such as hereditary hemochromatosis, that affect iron metabolism. Iron accumulation in the body that is left untreated can lead to heart muscle destruction, diabetes and cirrhosis of the liver, the institute states. Cirrhosis is a condition in which the liver may scar and fail to function.
The recommended daily intake for iron varies depending your age or if you are pregnant, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Children and adolescents require from 7 to 15 milligrams of iron per day, while adult males may require 8 mg per day and adult females require 18 mg per day. Pregnant women have a recommended daily intake of 27 mg of iron per day. Symptoms of acute iron overload may occur if you exceed 20 to 60 mg/kg of body weight. A lethal dose can occur at 200 to 250 mg/kg of body weight. In addition to supplement form, you may be consuming iron in foods such as beef, liver, and fortified breads and cereals.
Chromium
If you suffer from kidney or liver disease you should limit your supplemental intake of chromium, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Some research suggests that an excess consumption of chromium supplements may lead to kidney or liver disease and other problems.
Adult males are recommended to take in 30 to 35 mg of iron per day, while adult women are advised to take in 20 to 25 mg of iron per day, according to the institute. If you are breast-feeding, the recommended intake is 44 mg of iron per day; and in children, intake varies from 11 to 21 mg/day depending upon age and gender. Chromium is found in many foods, including broccoli, potatoes, beef, turkey breast, bagels, apples and bananas.
Copper
Excess intake of copper can lead to both nervous system and liver damage. Excess copper can occur in your tissues if you have an inherited disorder called Wilson's disease, according to MedlinePlus. With this condition, your body absorbs in and maintains too much copper in your body. The copper can then accumulate in various organs such as the brain, kidneys and liver. The effects can include tissue scarring, tissue death and tissue damage in organs such as the liver. An excess of copper in your body can also occur if you ingest too many supplements containing copper, or ingest other substances such as insectides or copper wire that contain copper, according to MedlinePlus. A symptom of this overload is liver disease, anemia, diarrhea or fever.
The recommended daily allowance for copper is 900 mcg, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. The upper tolerable intake for copper is 10 mg/day from supplements and foods. Foods that contain copper include organ meats, shellfish, nuts and seeds.
