Hemochromatosis is a genetic disorder characterized by increased iron absorption. Mayo Clinic says that most people absorb about 10 percent of the iron in food. People with hemochromatosis absorb much more. Over time, excess iron accumulates in the heart, liver, pancreas and joints, producing symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, darkening of the skin, irregular heart rhythm and joint pain. Treatment consists of blood donation to draw off excessive iron. Your doctor may also suggest you follow a diet to limit the amount of iron you absorb from food.
Significance
Many people with hemochromatosis start out needing to donate blood every one or two weeks. When blood levels of iron reach normal values -- anywhere between several weeks and one year -- your doctor may tell you that you can donate just two or four times per year instead. Consuming less iron or adopting strategies to offset the amount of iron you absorb may decrease the frequency with which you have to donate. A healthy diet may also offset your risk of complications.
Foods to Avoid
People with hemochromatosis should not consume or even touch raw shellfish such as oysters, mussels, clams, crab and lobster. Shellfish can be contaminated with a bacteria called Vibrio vulnificus, which causes severe or even deadly disease in people with hemochromatosis. However, thoroughly cooked versions are fine. People with hemochromatosis should also avoid alcohol. Alcohol enhances iron absorption and it can amplify liver damage due to the more onerous hemochromatosis-induced damage, independent of its effect on iron absorption.
Foods to Limit
Consume beef, liver and lamb sparingly. When you eat pork, ham, chicken or fish, choose cuts that are low in fat. Saturated fats in these and other foods work together with iron to cause tissue damage throughout the body. Also limit the amount of sugar you consume. Sugar, like alcohol, enhances iron absorption and it makes few positive contributions to overall health.
Foods to Enjoy
Fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants that quench tissue-damaging free radicals created by excess iron. Dairy products such as milk and cheese contain calcium, which competes with iron for absorption. Many are available in fat-free or low-fat versions low in saturated fat. Eggs, while not technically a dairy product, contain phosvitin, a protein that tightly binds iron. The Iron Disorders Institute says that one boiled egg consumed as part of a meal can limit the amount of iron absorbed from a meal by up to 28 percent, a phenomonen dubbed the "egg factor."
Beverages
Beverages and some fruits contain compounds called polyphenols that inhibit iron absorption. The Iron Disorders Institute says sipping black or pekoe tea -- even decaffeinated varieties -- within two hours of a meal decreases the amount of iron your body absorbs by up to 90 percent. Coffee inhibits about 60 percent of iron absorption. Cow, soy and nut milks decrease iron absorption by 50 to 65 percent. Citrus and tomato juices enhance iron absorption. Consume them on their own rather than with a meal. If you want to enjoy juice with a meal, consider apple juice, which, like tea, contains iron-inhibiting polyphenols.
Considerations
If you have hemochromatosis, MayoClinic.com says you should never take vitamin or mineral supplements except as directed by your doctor. Iron supplements are obviously inappropriate. However, other nutrients such as vitamin C and vitamin A also enhance iron absorption. Diet does not replace conventional medical treatment for hemochromatosis or any other condition. Always attend all follow-up appointments, even if you feel your disease is under control. Hemochromatosis is a chronic disease that requires frequent monitoring for complications, such as cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer.
