In general, we are taught that consuming vitamins and minerals is essential for the proper functioning of our body and the systems it contains. But new studies show that even when it comes to healthy supplements, too much of a good thing can be very harmful. A recent study found that consuming too much iron can be very harmful to the human body.
Presented in the journal Nature Communications, the study analyzed human genetic studies of more than one million subjects. The study’s lead author and analyst is Paul Timmers of the University of Edinburgh.
“Using genetics, we found multiple lines of evidence indicating that poor control of blood iron levels is causally related to shorter life expectancy and fewer years of good health,” Timmers told Eat This, Not That!
The study focused on examining the DNA of those who participated in the study, those who led typically healthy lives and those who suffered from age-related diseases. The analysts isolated three key facts about the factors of aging. They included life expectancy, life expectancy, and longevity. Life expectancy refers to the years an individual lives without disease, and longevity refers to a person living to old age.
Additionally, LDLR and FOXO3 were two regions that influenced how the body metabolizes iron, giving the researchers an indication that iron may play a larger role in aging than previously thought.
“Genetic variation in these regions appears to be the most important for healthy iron metabolism. Genes influenced by genetic variation in the other eight regions are not directly related to iron metabolism,” said Joris Deelen, Ph.D., an author who studies biology and aging at the Max Planck Institute for the Biology of Aging in Germany.
