For heart disease, the findings so far regarding iron levels and risk are complex, said Fonarow.
“Both iron deficiency and iron overload have been associated with increased coronary heart disease event risk,” he noted.
People shouldn’t supplement their iron intake to ward off heart disease, he said.
“Further studies and, ultimately, prospective randomized trials are needed before treatment with any form of iron should be considered for modification of the risk of coronary heart disease,” Fonarow said.
The report was published Oct. 6 in the journal ESC Heart Failure.
More information
The American Red Cross offers more on iron-rich foods.
