What effects does haemochromatosis have and how common is it?
Iron is the critical component of haemoglobin’, the red pigment in blood. Haemoglobin carries oxygen to the tissues, so iron is essential in the diet. In good health some iron is stored in the liver before being used to make haemoglobin, but as explained above, haemochromatosis leads to excessive absorption of iron from the diet. Much of the additional iron is deposited in the liver, damaging this vital organ and causing it to enlarge. Harmful levels of iron may also be deposited in other organs, including the heart and pancreas. It can also affect joints, leading to symptoms similar to arthritis. The extent of genetic haemochromatosis in Australia is not exactly known. One study estimated that about one Australian in 80 has the condition, many without knowing it. It can affect men, women and children at any age. Genetic haemochromatosis is particularly common among people whose ancestors came from Britain or elsewhere in northern Europe. The genetics of haemochromatosis is rather comp
