Bone: High body iron stores lead to bone loss

摘要

Even in healthy adults, elevated serum levels of the iron storage molecule ferritin are associated with an increased rate of bone loss. This finding is the result of a study conducted by a team of scientists in Seoul.Iron is a highly reactive metal and can act as a catalyst in the production of hydroxyl radicals. These molecules can cause tissue damage and a number of researchers have suggested that elevated iron stores can lead to a variety of adverse outcomes. Elevated serum ferritin levels have been associated with the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus in individuals without known risk factors for the disease. In addition, high serum levels of this molecule have been linked to hypertension, dyslipidaemia and the metabolic syndrome.