What diet is best for those with hemochromatosis?
I've been diagnosed with hemachromatosis. Can you recommend a diet that is low in iron and iron retaining content?
Dr. Gourmet Says....
Hemochromatosis (for those readers who are unaware of this issue) is a genetic condition where the body doesn't store iron properly. The result is iron overload in the body that can lead to many problems including liver and heart damage. It is actually a fairly common condition with some research showing 1 - 6% of the population having some degree of problem.
In people like yourself who have been diagnosed the treatment is to remove blood on a regular basis until the iron levels return to normal. This is called "phlebotomy." Once the levels are within an acceptable range they are maintained by ongoing but less frequent phlebotomy.
There doesn't appear to be much of a role for diet in helping to control hemochromatosis and the iron overload. There are some general recommendations made by an expert panel convened by the CDC:
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Avoid iron supplements.
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Read the label of multivitamins to make sure they do not contain iron.
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Limit vitamin C supplementation to 500 mg/day. Vitamin C speeds up intestinal iron absorption. Eating natural foods that contain vitamin C is fine.
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Avoid eating raw shellfish. Hemochromatosis patients are susceptible to infections with Vibrio vulnificus and Salmonella enteriditis; raw shellfish can contain these bacteria.
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Avoid more than moderate alcohol consumption, one drink per day for females, no more than two per day for males. Patients with liver damage should avoid alcohol.
There are a few other considerations that have not been proven but may help. Eating a high fiber diet can retard the absorption of iron as can tea. Some advise eating foods that are rich in Vitamin C like fruits and fruit juices between meals so as to decrease the absorption of iron when Vitamin C is present. It's probably a good idea to not cook foods in iron cookware.
Overall eating a healthy diet is something you should be able to do along with phlebotomy as directed by your physician.
Here are some good links to sites that you may find helpful:
http://www.cdc.gov/hemochromatosis/training/index.htm
Thanks for writing,
Dr. Gourmet
Eat well, eat healthy, enjoy life!