Consuming This Mineral Reasonable Or It Can Shorten Your Life
We are usually taught that vitamins and Mineral are necessary for proper body function. But new research shows that even healthy supplements can be harmful in excess. A recent study concluded that too much iron can be harmful to the body.
The study, published in Nature Communications, examined over a million genetic human studies. The author and lead analyst is Paul Timmers of Edinburgh University.
“We found multiple lines of evidence linking poor iron control to a shorter lifespan and fewer years lived in good health,” Timmers told Eat This, Not That!
The study focused on the DNA of participants, both healthy and those with age-related diseases. Analysts identified three key aging facts. They were healthspan and longevity. Healthspan is the number of years without disease, and longevity is the number of years lived.
Researchers discovered that LDLR and FOXO3 influence how iron is metabolized by the body, indicating that iron may play a larger role in aging than previously thought.
Iron metabolism appears to be most dependent on genetic variation in these regions. According to author Joris Deelen, Ph.D., aging genes influenced by genetic variation in the other eight regions are not directly linked to iron metabolism.
Deelen goes on to explain how iron levels affect aging. It was discovered that, for most people, a small reduction in blood iron from current levels is beneficial to their health. This study is a breakthrough because it links iron metabolism to healthy aging.
High iron levels due to genetic predisposition may shorten the life span. Variations in DNA can uncontrollably raise iron levels, which isn’t anyone’s fault. Having these genetic markers increases the risk of age-related diseases and even death.
“Regularly checking your iron levels could be important for maintaining optimal health into old age,” says Timmers.
If you have these genetic markers, you may need to limit your iron intake. We don’t even know if we have these iron-raising DNA traits. We may never know if we are susceptible to elevated iron levels unless we are part of a specific test group. Because of this uncertainty, we should all be as safe as possible and regulate our iron levels. This means avoiding foods high in iron, like red meat.
We need more research because the study was preliminary. Iron’s role in early aging and age-related diseases is unclear. Researchers need to learn more about this Mineral metabolism to determine how much iron is required for good health. It varies per person, so precise testing and data are required for this groundbreaking research.