Iron: A Fine Line

      As seen by the comments above, iron deficiency can increase the reactivity of the immune system triggering asthmatic symptoms and hair loss in mice. The inflammatory response does limit bacterial growth and boost antibacterial defenses.
     The goal should be to normalize iron status rather than load the body with excess iron. Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency world-wide according to some investigators. Frequency of mild iron deficiency is difficult to determine.
     Excess iron intake can be as much of a problem as iron deficiency. As many as one in 200 people may carry a single gene for a disorder called hemachromatosis which is associated with increased tendency to absorb and store iron. There may be over one million people with a double copy of this gene in the United States. Iron overload in these people can aggravate arthritis, heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
     Many physicians and lay people associate anemia immediately with iron deficiency. Deficiency of other nutrients such as folic acid, B12, and vitamin E may also be involved. If anemia fails to resolve with modest iron supplementation, this does not necessarily mean that more iron is required.

     GNLD Chelated Iron is a relatively safe way to obtain additional iron. The iron is double-wrapped with amino acids to prevent the iron from behaving as a free radical in the digestive tract. Chelation also makes iron less available to pathogens in the digestive tract which have a particular fondness for this mineral.

References:

Clark SF (2008) Iron deficiency anemia. Nutr Clin Pract 23: 128-141.

Crawford, Roberta, The Iron Elephant, Glyndon, MD: Vida Publishing 1993.