| When the diagnosis of hemochromatosis is made | | | | may be removed by bleeding it is very difficult to |
| it is important to adjust the diet so that too much | | | | remove other excess heavy metals. |
| iron is not being absorbed because of an improper | | | | Don't take milk thistle which has often been |
| diet. However such adjustment need not be at | | | | touted as good for the liver. It can cause severe |
| the expense of enjoying life and good food. | | | | problems in those with hemochromatosis. It is |
| The biggest considerations are not to take | | | | best to avoid herbal medicines with |
| medications which contain iron, consume too much | | | | hemochromatosis as the joint effects have not |
| alcohol or Vitamin C. Excessive alcohol | | | | been adequately studied. |
| consumption which has shown to greatly increase | | | | Don't eat raw shellfish. They may be |
| iron absorption in those with hemochromatosis is | | | | contaminated with Vibrio vulnificans which thrives |
| set at a level of 60g a day. Thus it is important | | | | in an iron rich environment. There have been |
| to stay well below this level. The limit should be | | | | fatalities in the northern hemisphere. Cooking |
| 30g a day in men and 20g a day in women. When | | | | inactivates this organism. |
| a patient has two copies of C282Y and drinks | | | | Vitamin E - as an antioxidant may be of some |
| excessive alcohol there is a multiplying affect - | | | | help because too much iron may act as an |
| not an additive affect - on the absorption of iron. | | | | oxidant. However it is probably important not to |
| It is deadly to drink too much alcohol if you have | | | | exceed 400 to 800 IU a day of Vitamin E. |
| hemochromatosis. The effect of excessive alcohol | | | | It is non-heme iron or the iron found in sources |
| consumption on hemochromatosis cannot be | | | | such as vegetables that is excessively absorbed in |
| overstressed. | | | | hemochromatosis. Thus a patient with |
| Vitamin C enhances the absorption of iron. It is | | | | hemochromatosis may consume a steak and not |
| wise only to consume a moderate amount and | | | | be overly concerned. Meat and blood are sources |
| not take Vitamin C tablets. Vitamin C has been | | | | of heme iron. |
| known to precipitate heart palpitations in those | | | | It is important not to believe that those with |
| with hemochromatosis. | | | | hemochromatosis should overly restrict their diet. |
| The ingestion of black tea has been shown to | | | | With the exception of the above pointers |
| decrease the absorption of iron. African tea which | | | | restriction of iron intake doesn't help that much in |
| is becoming popular may contain iron so too much | | | | hemochromatosis. A very strict diet with removal |
| should not be consumed. | | | | of all other sources of iron will help keep the |
| Patients with hemochromatosis should not take | | | | ferritin level down, however no more than could |
| supplements unless there are documented | | | | be achieved by one phlebotomy every 6 months. |
| deficiencies. There is evidence that those with | | | | So it is important to enjoy your food - |
| hemochromatosis may also have an increased | | | | hemochromatosis is not a barrier to that. |
| ability to absorb other heavy metals. While iron | | | | |