This shows how the meat iron is absorbed 'differently' and MORE
than the iron from plants in hemochromatosis.
<<snip>>
The effect of heme iron intake (from meat, fish, and poultry) was 2.0
times greater (1.2-3.2) on C282Y homozygotes than other groups.
<<snip>>
Epidemiology. 2005 Nov;16(6):802-5. Related Articles, Links
HFE genotype modifies the influence of heme iron intake on iron status.
Greenwood DC, Cade JE, Moreton JA, O'Hara B, Burley VJ, Randerson-Moor
JA, Kukalizch K, Thompson D, Worwood M, Bishop DT.
Biostatistics Unit, University of Leeds, and Genetic Epidemiology
Division, Cancer Genetics Building, St. James's University Hospital,
Leeds, UK. d.c.greenwood@leeds.ac.uk
BACKGROUND: Public health policy to prevent iron deficiency through
food fortification or other measures may be disadvantageous to people
with hereditary hemochromatosis.
METHODS: From a cohort of U.K. women,
2531 women were typed for C282Y and H63D mutations in the
hemochromatosis gene. These women completed food frequency
questionnaires and provided blood for iron status.
RESULTS: C282Y
homozygotes (n=31) had serum ferritin concentrations 2.4 times higher
(95% confidence interval=1.9-3.1) than wild types (n=1774), but
heterozygotes (n=726) were not different from wild types. H63D genotype
had no effect on its own. The effect of heme iron intake (from meat,
fish, and poultry) was 2.0 times greater (1.2-3.2) on C282Y homozygotes
than other groups. Nonheme iron had little effect.
CONCLUSIONS: There
may be scope for dietary intervention in women homozygous for the C282Y
mutation. C282Y heterozygotes and H63D homozygotes and heterozygotes
have similar serum ferritin concentrations to wild type and need not
reduce their meat intake other than as part of a normal healthy diet.
PMID: 16222171