How many times have we heard our doctor say, “Change your eating habits and you will live longer?” Plenty of times! There are a lot of diseases that are directly affected by our diet, what we eat and what we don’t. Some diseases like diabetes require constant vigilance on food intake, both in kind and quantity, because life threatening side effects can happen in a blink of an eye.
There is another disorder where diet plays an important role. This time, this disease is not caused by diet, but its cure depends on how well the diet is altered. Hereditary hemochromatosis is an inherited disorder that is characterized by an extreme absorption of iron by the body. Because of this, the result is an iron overload, since the quantity of iron that is stored is pathologically high. The body is unable to get rid of excess iron. It remains within the body and builds up on the various organs and tissues. When this happens, several health complications are most likely to occur. Some of the more common organs affected by iron overload are the liver, pancreas, heart, skin, and joints.
Diseases that can result from hereditary haemochromatosis include liver cirrhosis, diabetes, heart ailments, and adrenal insufficiency. It could also result in a other life-threatening conditions such as cancer.
Hereditary hemochromatosis diagnosis involves the process of taking blood tests for iron and measuring the levels of ferritin content as well, to determine HH blood. Should these tests suggest that there may indeed be hemochromatosis, the next step would the liver biopsy and a genetic screening examination to confirm the diagnosis of hereditary hemochromatosis. The diagnosis begins with the person undergoing the physical exam required, as well as recording a comprehensive medical history. This would also include listing down all of the symptoms associated with the disorder that are manifested. Because hemochromatosis is hereditary in nature, the family history of a patient can present vital clues while a diagnosis is being made.
Should the preliminary exam suggest HH, the diagnosis progresses to the series of blood tests for measurements of levels of serum iron and ferritin, which is an iron compound that is stored in the cells of the body. The test for transferrin saturation is also conducted, which measures the quantity of iron that is bound to proteins in the blood. To confirm the hemachromatosis diagnosis, a liver biopsy is performed, wherein lives tissue is examined for signs of liver damage.
The most common treatment for this disorder involves removing excessive iron through a weekly phlebotomy or removing blood measuring about 500cc from the vein. The levels of transferrin and ferritin are monitored regularly to check if they are back to normal and the process of phlebotomy can be performed less often. Sometimes, it could take about two years before these levels are normalized.
And this is where a good diet comes in. After the diagnosis, after the phlebotomy and after taking chelating agents (deferoxamine), a review of a patient’s diet is mandatory. This is because iron is also a food mineral, and care must be taken when eating iron rich food. There is also danger of going to the extreme, from iron overload to iron deficiency (anemia).
Here are some Dietary Tips for patients with Hereditary Haemochromatosis:
1. Do not drink alcohol. In a study that tracked alcohol intake with patients with hereditary hemochromatosis, it was found that they were nine times more likely to develop cirrhosis of the liver than non- hereditary hemochromatosis sufferers. This is because alcohol promotes the absorption of iron in the intestines which lead to iron overload.
2. Do not take too much Vitamin C. Vitamin C is a supplement that people with hereditary hemochromatosis can skip. Patients are told not to take Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) because it increases iron uptake. Fruits and vegetables with Vitamin C, natural and organic sources of this vitamin, are not excluded from the list.
3. Do not eat raw (uncooked) seafood. Seafood is a good source of iron. However shellfish that are raw may promote bacterial infection and this is dangerous to people with hereditary haemochromatosis.
Routine check up for levels of iron may be a life long activity. But once the levels are no longer in excess quantities, the doctors may recommend longer intervals between visits.
We are in control of what we do to our bodies. When we get blindsided by a hereditary disease such as a hemochromatosis diagnosis that is positive, then we have to be proactive and aggressive in getting treatment and finding a cure.
Our body depends on us – our will power, our determination and our discipline to help it get better. Let’s do our share.
