Low iron levels may increase risk of heart disease

People with low iron levels may be at greater risk of heart disease, according to a new study involving UCL scientists. Researchers analysing genetic data have uncovered a potential protective effect of iron in coronary artery disease, suggesting that having a higher iron status reduces a person's risk of coronary artery disease (CAD), a type of cardiovascular disease (CVD) where clogged arteries reduce the amount of blood reaching the heart. CVD is a leading cause of death worldwide , according to the World Health Organization, resulting in more than seven million deaths a year. Previous research has shown that iron status - the amount of the nutrient in the body - plays a role in CVD risk, but studies to date have provided conflicting results. While some studies have shown high iron status may have a protective effect, others point to high levels of iron increasing the risk of heart attacks. Scientists have struggled to prove that systemic iron levels directly influence the risk of CVD because many other factors including age and gender can affect both, making it difficult to untangle the relationship between them. Now, researchers from UCL and Imperial College London have used a method called Mendelian randomization to try to establish if there is a direct or causal link between levels of iron and the risk of CAD, revealing that those with lower iron status are at greater risk.