Hemochromatosis occurs when your body absorbs too much iron from your food, causing an overload in your organs that can damage them. If not treated, this can cause failure of the liver, heart and pancreas, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, or NDDIC. Joint pain is the most common symptom but hemochromatosis can also cause fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of libido, heart problems, arthritis, liver disease, diabetes, skin discoloration, impotence and menstrual problems.
Causes
There are two kinds of hemochromatosis. Primary hemochromatosis, which is also called hereditary hemochromatosis, is caused by an inherited gene mutation. It is the most common genetic disorder in the U.S., according to MedlinePlus. Only people who carry two copies of the abnormal gene that causes hemochromatosis will develop the disease, though not all do, according to MayoClinic.com. Those with only one copy may absorb more iron than normal, but won't get sick. The latter can still pass the trait on to their children. Genetic testing is available. Secondary hemochromatosis, also called acquired hemochromatosis, is caused by other conditions, including chronic alcohol use and certain kinds of anemia, especially if you have received many blood transfusions.
Risk Factors
Caucasians of western European descent have the highest risk of developing hereditary hemochromatosis, though other ethnic groups can also be affected, according to the NDDIC. If you have a parent or sibling who has hemochromatosis, you are more likely to develop the disease. Men are more likely to develop hemochromatosis at a younger age than women. Women lose iron through menstruation and pregnancy, so they don't build up an overload as easily as men, according to MayoClinic.com. After menopause or a hysterectomy, a woman's risk increases.
Iron Supplements
Taking iron supplements would increase iron levels and worsen symptoms, according to MayoClinic.com. You should avoid taking any iron supplements if you have hemochromatosis. You should also avoid any multivitamins that contain iron and fortified foods, such as certain breakfast cereals, according to MedlinePlus. Your doctor may also advise you to avoid iron cookware, which increases the iron level of foods cooked in it.
Other Concerns
You should also avoid taking vitamin C supplements because vitamin C increases the absorption of iron and this could worsen symptoms, according to MayoClinic.com. If you want to drink orange juice or another source of natural vitamin C, try to do it between meals so it doesn't cause you to absorb too much iron from your food. If your hemochromatosis has caused liver disease, you will need to avoid alcohol, which can further damage the liver. You should also avoid raw shellfish -- though cooked is fine -- because it can also damage the liver and may cause infection.
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