How common is iron overload/hemochromatosis?
Frequency (incidence in the general population) of the abnormal gene is: 1 in 100-200 people has hemochromatosis (double gene mutation known as a homozygote) and 1 in 8-10 people is a carrier of hemochromatosis (single gene mutation known as a heterozygote or “het” for short). That’s approximately 32 million Americans who are carriers and 1.5 million Americans have the double gene which can lead to full blown hemochromatosis. Recent studies in Ireland, show a frequency of 1 in 4 as carriers of the single mutation and 1 in 64 as double gene mutation. Because of this high frequency, routine screening for hereditary hemochromatosis is medically indicated.
