The Role of Iron in Diabetes and its Complications

Received for publication 28 December 2006 and accepted in revised form
29 March 2007.
Sundararaman Swaminathan MD*
Vivian A. Fonseca MD†
Muhammad G. Alam MD, MPH*
Sudhir V. Shah MD*
*Division of Nephrology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences,
Little Rock, Arkansas; †Division of Endocrinology, Tulane University
School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
Corresponding author:
Sudhir V. Shah, MD
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
4301 West Markham Street, Slot 501
Little Rock, AR 72205 USA
E-mail: shahsudh...@uams.edu
Running title: Iron and Diabetes

Role of Iron in Induction of Diabetes Mellitus
The evidence that systemic iron overload could contribute to abnormal
glucose metabolism was first derived from the observation that the
frequency of diabetes is increased in classic hereditary
hemochromatosis (HH).
However, with the discovery of novel genetic disorders of iron
metabolism, it is obvious that iron overload, irrespective of the
cause or the gene involved, results in increased incidence of type 2
diabetes mellitus.
The role of iron in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus is suggested
by (1) an increased incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in diverse
causes of iron overload and (2) reversal or improvement in diabetes
(glycemic control), with reduction in iron load achieved using either
phlebotomy or iron chelation therapy. Recently a link has been
established between increased dietary iron intake, particularly with
eating red meat, with increased body iron stores and the development
of diabetes.
A causative link with iron overload is suggested by the improvement in
insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion with frequent blood donation
and decreased iron stores .

Who loves ya.
Tom

Jesus Was A Vegetarian!
http://tinyurl.com/634q5a

Man Is A Herbivore!
http://tinyurl.com/4rq595

DEAD PEOPLE WALKING
http://tinyurl.com/zk9fk