Hereditary hemochromatosis – Prevention Types & Diet

Rigomo Team

Sun, 05 Oct 2025

Hereditary hemochromatosis disease is an autosomal recessive disorder that causes the buildup of too much iron in the body. The person inherits one HFE gene from each of the parents.

If you've got a hereditary iron-storage disease, then there is a danger of developing very high iron levels.

Many folks with the hereditary iron-storage disease don’t understand they need immediate treatment. Early symptoms of an iron-storage disease like feeling tired or weak, are very common and may be confused with other diseases. Men with the hereditary iron-storage disease are prone to develop complications and that too at an earlier age. It is found that about 1 in 10 men with the hereditary iron-storage disease can develop severe disease. However, most people with the hereditary iron-storage disease never develop symptoms or complications.

How are you able to stop complications from hemochromatosis?

If you or your members of the family have iron-storage disease, your doctor might recommend ways to lower the levels of iron in your body. The sooner iron-storage disease is diagnosed, the less seemingly you're to develop serious complications—many of which may cause permanent issues. If you're diagnosed with an iron-storage disease, frequent regular blood removal is the only way to lower the levels of iron in your body. Your doctor can also recommend

o   Annual blood tests to ascertain your iron levels;

o   Liver diagnostic test to ascertain for cirrhosis;

o   Iron chelation therapy, if you can't have blood removed. This involves medication taken either orally or injected to lower the levels of iron in your body;

o   Dietary changes, like avoiding multivitamins, ascorbic acid supplements, and iron supplements, which may increase iron in your body;

o   No alcohol use (because alcohol will increase the danger of liver damage);

o   Steps to forestall infections such as

o   Not eating raw fish and shellfish

o   Staying up to date on vaccinations, especially hepatitis B.

There are four kinds of hereditary iron-storage disease, that are classified based on the age of onset and factors like genetic cause and mode of inheritance.

Few changes need to be done to diet:

1. Fruits and vegetables

Green leafy vegetables and brightly colored fruits are jam-packed with antioxidants. Though spinach is understood for its iron content, it contains oxalates that impair non-heme iron absorption. Alternative other sources of oxalates embrace kale, rhubarb, and strawberries.

Berries, plums, sweet cherries, apples, artichokes, chicory, and red onions contain polyphones that are shown to inhibit haematin iron absorption. Moreover, fruit and vegetables contain non-heme iron, which isn't absorbed well.

2. Lean Protein

Lean proteins like chicken, white-meat turkey, cod, mackerel, and salmon have low iron content than meat.

3. Legumes, grains, nuts, seeds, and beans

Whole grains, legumes, seeds, and beans, contain phytates or phytic acid, which may decrease the absorption of iron. They’re additionally high in fiber which impairs the absorption of non-heme iron.

4. Eggs

Phosvitin, a protein in eggs, binds to iron and helps limit the amount of iron absorbed by the body.

5. Tea

Tea drinkers consume a chemical compound known as tannins, which is normally found in tea. As per one study, tea consumption might impair iron bioavailability.

6. Dairy foods

Dairy foods like milk, cheese, and yoghurt square measure poor sources of iron. Plus, they'll decrease the iron absorption in pills and foods taken at an equivalent time.