Iron & Inflammation: Unraveling the Link

Both iron and inflammation are essential to our health, but like many things, too much or too little can cause problems. Iron is responsible for the production of blood cells, some hormones, DNA synthesis & the production of energy. It is also plays an important role in muscle and immune function.

We know that there is a well-established connection between iron and inflammation. When our iron levels are high, this can contribute to underlying inflammation in the body. This happens because iron promotes the formation of free radicals. Free radicals are unstable oxygen molecules that can damage our cells and tissues, triggering an inflammatory response.

But it's not just a one-way street. Inflammation itself can also disrupt how our bodies recycle and utilize iron. When it comes to addressing iron and inflammation, we need to pay attention to ferritin. Ferritin is essentially the storage form of iron. Ferritin is classified as an acute phase reactant, meaning that during times of acute inflammation and infection, ferritin synthesis is stimulated. We can also see ferritin levels elevated on bloodwork as a result of low-grade chronic inflammation in the body.

Whether you're dealing with chronic low-grade inflammation or an acute inflammatory response, the relationship between iron and inflammation is important to understand, especially for managing inflammatory conditions.