The Short Answer

Excess iron is highly inflammatory and can significantly worsen autoimmune conditions, including Hashimoto’s low thyroid. If you have hemochromatosis, a genetic condition where the body absorbs too much iron, managing your iron levels through phlebotomy and dietary adjustments is essential to reducing inflammation and improving your overall autoimmune health.

How excess iron fuels autoimmune inflammation

If you have an autoimmune condition and hemochromatosis, it’s important to understand that excess iron is very inflammatory. Consistently high iron levels can stem from a genetic condition called hemochromatosis, in which the body absorbs too much iron from food and supplements.

Hemochromatosis is relatively common, affecting about a million people in the U.S. Symptoms may include joint pain, fatigue, heart flutters, and abdominal pain. If untreated, hemochromatosis raises the risk of diabetes, arthritis, liver inflammation (cirrhosis), and sexual dysfunction. For people with autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto’s low thyroid, unmanaged iron accumulation makes it significantly harder to control immune system activity.

Iron accumulation in the brain’s basal ganglia has been shown to impact neurological functioning and can lead to movement disorders, dementia, and psychological symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and OCD.

Screening for hemochromatosis when you have autoimmunity

Hemochromatosis typically goes undiagnosed because symptoms are so indistinct. You can screen for it with a series of three blood tests known as the Iron Panel. It’s useful to rule out hemochromatosis if you’re having difficulty managing your autoimmune condition and your comprehensive blood panel shows elevated iron levels, especially if you have Hashimoto’s low thyroid, or another thyroid-based autoimmune condition.

If you have hemochromatosis, you can address it through phlebotomy or having your blood drawn periodically. This helps normalize iron levels, reducing inflammation and significantly improving your ability to manage autoimmune symptoms.

Foods and supplements to avoid with hemochromatosis

Supplements or multivitamins that contain iron. Everyone should be cautious of supplements with iron. It’s best to test your iron levels before taking them.

Vitamin C supplements and orange juice. Vitamin C increases iron absorption. However, it is generally fine to eat foods that contain vitamin C.

Alcohol. Alcohol compromises liver function, the organ most vulnerable to excess iron.

Shellfish and raw fish. They may contain infectious bacteria that can be dangerous for people with hemochromatosis.

Red meat. Red meat contains a form of iron that the body absorbs most easily.

Sugar. Sugar increases iron absorption.

Following these steps may help you create a more effective protocol to manage your autoimmune condition.

Foods that naturally reduce iron absorption

There are two types of foods beneficial for people with hemochromatosis: those that inhibit iron absorption and those that contain iron in a form the body poorly absorbs.

Foods that inhibit iron absorption:

• Green or black tea
• Raw kale
• Eggs
• Legumes
• Foods rich in calcium, magnesium, polyphenols, tannins, phytates, and/or oxalates

(Note: If you have an autoimmune condition like Hashimoto’s, you may be sensitive to some of these foods and should work with your doctor to determine which are safe for you.)

Foods that contain iron in a form difficult to absorb:

Nearly all vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and beans fall into this category. Many of them contain oxalates, which reduce iron absorption.

If you occasionally consume foods with easily absorbed iron, such as meat or sweets, combine them with foods that block iron absorption. A hemochromatosis diet doesn’t have to be extremely strict; your lab tests will guide how strict you need to be.

Contact RedRiver Health and Wellness to work with a functional medicine doctor who can test your iron levels and help you manage both hemochromatosis and autoimmune conditions together.