As women, we are often reminded about our special need for iron and we often consume iron supplements because we believe “it’s good for us.” But for over one million Americans, supplementing iron intake could have devastating consequences. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), “In the United States more than one million people have the gene mutation that can cause hemochromatosis.” People of European descent are most likely to have the gene mutation that causes iron overload which can lead to hemochromatosis.

What is Iron Overload?