Is there a special diet for haemochromatosis?
Although iron intake in the diet should be controlled, diet alone cannot treat the iron overload resulting from haemochromatosis. Phlebotomy is the major treatment. In any case, many foods that are rich in iron are nutritious in other ways, so a low-iron diet is not usually recommended. However, some dietary precautions are appropriate, for example vitamin C supplements should not be taken, because vitamin C enhances the absorption of dietary iron into the body. Raw seafood should also be avoided, as should breakfast cereals that are fortified with iron. Meat and offal are rich in iron, so consumption of these foods should be restricted (one small serve of meat per day is adequate). Some foods are helpful, for example tea and milk products interfere with iron absorption, so these are appropriate drinks to have with meals (while alcohol may increase iron absorption, so its intake should be restricted). Further Reading Haemochromatosis: A Common Inherited Disorder Obtainable from Haemoch
