Iron Overload: What To Do
Excess iron accumulating in the body, most often from inherited haemochromatosis.
Last revised
It is more common than generally assumed, it damages the liver, heart and pancreas silently, and treatment is simple if started early.
Key takeaways
- Commonest inherited form: genetic haemochromatosis
- Tests: ferritin and transferrin saturation, then genetic testing
- Most useful single change: Ask for testing if you have persistent fatigue with joint pain.
- Commonest mistake: Iron supplements without a confirmed deficiency.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to get help" below apply to you.
Do
- Ask for testing if you have persistent fatigue with joint pain
- Ask for family testing if a relative is affected
- Attend venesection appointments consistently
- Avoid iron and high-dose vitamin C supplements
Do not
- Iron supplements without a confirmed deficiency
- High-dose vitamin C, which increases iron absorption
- Alcohol, which compounds liver damage
The figures behind the list
Each item above follows from these, published in the guidance named at the foot of the page.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Commonest inherited form | genetic haemochromatosis |
| Tests | ferritin and transferrin saturation, then genetic testing |
| Treatment | regular venesection, essentially blood removal |
| Early symptoms | fatigue and joint pain, easily attributed to other things |
| Family testing | recommended for first-degree relatives |
Where to go next
- Iron Overload for Beginners: Where to Start
- Iron Overload: The Questions People Actually Ask
- Iron Overload — the reference entry
- Blood Tests Explained: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
- What the Guidance Really Says About Anaemia
When to get help
See a GP for persistent fatigue with joint pain, particularly if a relative has haemochromatosis. Seek urgent help for yellowing of the skin or eyes, abdominal swelling, palpitations or breathlessness, which can indicate liver or heart involvement. Never take iron supplements if you have iron overload.
Where this comes from
- NICE — Haemochromatosis clinical knowledge summary
- Haemochromatosis UK — about the condition
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.