Medical staff may suggest that you regulate the amount of iron in your diet. Having haemochromatosis does not mean that you have to go out of your way to avoid iron. It is better that you try to balance your intake, as foods containing iron will also contain other nutrients that are essential for your general well-being.
How can I control the iron in my diet?
There are two different forms of dietary iron, known as haem and non-haem. Haem iron is
found in animal tissues while non-haem iron exists in plant or vegetable material.
The amount of iron you absorb from eating foods made from various plant sources ranges from
around 1% up to 10%. Absorption from animal food sources is much higher, at between 10% and 20%.
You should avoid consumption of the following:
-
vitamins or multivitamin supplements that contain iron
-
Vitamin C in pill form as this increases absorption of non-haem iron. Vitamin C from fruit and vegetables does not need to be avoided
-
breakfast cereals that are ‘fortified’ with iron
-
shellfish such as oysters, mussels and clams as these contain a bacteria that may be fatal to people with iron overload.
-
Because of the increased absorption from animal foods you may wish to cut down on eating red meat. Offal (organs such as heart, liver, kidneys etc.) in particular is very iron-rich.
There are certain substances that should be included in your diet:
-
calcium, as found in dairy foods, limits the absorption of haem iron (it is therefore helpful to consume dairy foods when you are eating meat)
-
tannin, as found in tea, limits the absorption of iron.
It is a good idea to develop a habit of reading the package labelling on processed foods to find out their nutritional content. You may be surprised to learn that even certain breads may have too much iron for you.
While watching your diet is essential, it is important to note that it is very unlikely you will prevent the development of haemochromatosis or be able to avoid the need for phlebotomy by dietary means.
Alcohol and haemochromatosis
The relationship between excessive drinking and haemochromatosis remains the subject of much research. At one time, drinking too much alcohol was wrongly considered to be the cause of haemochromatosis.
Studies now show that the combination of alcohol and iron increases the way in which free radicals cause ‘oxidative stress’ in the body. This means that drinking alcohol is likely to speed up and worsen the impact of the disease. If you have cirrhosis it is sensible to avoid alcohol completely.
Exercise
A common symptom of haemochromatosis is not having the energy to carry out physical tasks. This may improve with phlebotomy. You should talk to your medical advisor before undertaking any strenuous activity.