Prevention
At this time, hemochromatosis cannot be prevented. In many cases, early diagnosis and treatment can prevent complications caused by the disorder. Patients who have hemochromatosis should avoid alcohol, raw seafood (may increase the risk for liver damage), and iron and vitamin C (ascorbic acid) supplements.
Ongoing research is being conducted to determine how the body metabolizes and stores iron, the precise role of genes in iron absorption, and the method by which excess iron damages tissue and organs. Studies also are being performed to determine why hemochromatosis causes symptoms in some patients but not in others.
Physician-developed and -monitored.
Original Date of Publication: 29 Feb 2008
Reviewed by: Stanley J. Swierzewski, III, M.D.
Last Reviewed: 17 Dec 2007
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