- 17 July 2019
- 4 min read
Higher iron levels may boost heart health but also 'increase stroke risk'
A study examining genetic data indicates that high iron levels are associated with a lower risk of high cholesterol.

Naturally high iron levels may boost heart health, but they also increase the risk of stroke, a new study suggests.
A study examining genetic data from more than 500,000 people indicates that, while high iron levels are associated with a lower risk of high cholesterol, they also reduce the risk of arteries becoming furred with a build-up of fatty substances.
Read more
• Number of stroke doctors needs to rise by a third - report
However, research published in the journal of the American Heart Association and PLOS Medicine, also revealed the potential risks associated with naturally higher iron levels.
These included a higher risk of blood clots related to slow blood flow, a common cause of stroke - and a higher risk of bacterial skin infection.
Dr Dipender Gill, lead author from Imperial Collge London's School of Public Health, said: "Iron is a crucial mineral in the body, and is essential for carrying oxygen around the body.
Like this article? Subscribe to The Nurses Weekly!
"However, getting the right amount of iron in the body is a fine balance - too little can lead to anaemia, but too much can lead to a range of problems including liver damage."
Dr Gill cautioned that the study only looked at naturally occurring iron levels in the body related to genetic variation between individuals.
It did not investigate the effect of taking iron supplements, and Dr Gill urged people to speak to their doctor before starting - or stopping - iron supplements.
"Higher iron levels may cause blood clots to arise when flow is reduced, possibly explaining the increased chance of clots" - Dr Dipender Gill, Imperial College London
The research team used a genetic technique called Mendelian Randomisation to look at the link between iron levels and the risk of disease.
They examined genetic data from thousands of people to identify genetic "variants" associated with naturally higher iron levels.
They then investigated whether people who carry these variants called single-nucleotide polymorphisms also had a higher or lower risk of a range of conditions and diseases, such as high cholesterol and atherosclerosis.
The results revealed that naturally higher iron levels were associated with a reduced risk of both high cholesterol and high atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis is a potentially serious condition where the arteries become clogged with fatty substances.
This can reduce the flow of blood in the arteries, and in some cases can lead to a block in flow to the brain (triggering a stroke), or the heart (triggering a heart attack).
But the study also indicated that iron levels may be linked to a risk of clots related to slow blood flow, which can increase the risk of certain types of stroke and the condition deep vein thrombosis.
Dr Gill said these findings now need to be investigated in patient trials.
"These studies reveal new avenues of research and present many questions," he said.
"We are still unclear on how iron affects cholesterol levels, narrows arteries and form blood clots, but we have ideas.
"One possibility is that the lower cholesterol levels may be linked to the reduced risk of becoming furred.
"Furthermore, higher iron levels may cause blood clots to arise when flow is reduced, possibly explaining the increased chance of clots."
The scientists said their findings offer insight into previously unreported effects of iron status, highlighting a potential protective effect of higher iron status hypercholesterolemia and a detrimental role in the risk of skin and skin structure infections.
Given the modifiable and variable nature of iron status, these findings warrant further investigation, the team concluded.
Nurses.co.uk editorial team
About the author
Nurses.co.uk editorial team
Bringing you a daily update of nursing, NHS, health and social care news from around the UK.
Want to get involved in the discussion
Sign In JoinRead something else
Covid-19 Didn’t Bring Retired Nurses Back – But It Is Highlighting A Deeper Problem
NHS England has revealed only 1,007 former nurses out of 71,000 returned to work last summer while Covid-sickness absence left hospitals with a net drop of 3,694 full-time nurses.
A Day In The Life Of A Student Nurse During The Pandemic
Student Nurse, Kyle, gives an insight into Student Nursing during the pandemic with a video diary outlining coursework, working from home and student cuisine.
What Band 5 Salary Nurses Get Paid In 2021 – And What You’ll Do To Earn It
The New Pay Deal for the NHS was signed in 2018 and ensured a minimum pay increase for all nurses at all bandings over the subsequent three years. Here’s what it means for Band 5 nurses.
Latest Jobs
Dialysis Nurse
Redditch, Worcestershire, England
TTM Healthcare
Renal Nurse
Redditch, Worcestershire, England
Time Recruitment Solutions
Chemotherapy Staff Nurse
Fazakerley, Liverpool, Merseyside, England
Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust
Staff Nurse - Endoscopy
Manchester, Greater Manchester, England
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Discharge Nurse
Epsom, Surrey, England
Epsom & St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
Staff Nurse
Margate, Kent, England
Kent & Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust
See all of our RGN jobs
5690 jobs currently available