Higher levels of iron in the blood may protect against Parkinson's disease
By: Christine Hesio
Published on the website of the NORTHWEST PARKINSON'S FOUNDATION
A new study found a link between high levels of iron and a low risk of Parkinson's disease.
The latest study published in JOURNAL PLOS MEDICINE examined whether there is a relationship between the level of iron in the blood and the risk of developing Parkinson's disease. The causes of Parkinson's disease are still unknown, but previous studies have shown that Parkinson's patients have low levels of iron in their blood. In the new study, the researchers evaluated the effect of iron levels in the blood on the risk of developing Parkinson's disease while examining 3 structural variants of two genes, HFE and TMPRSS6. Polymorphism exists when two or more phenotypes exist in the same population of the same species.
The researchers conducted a meta-analysis (retrospective data analysis) that combined the results of studies that examined hereditary effects on iron levels and a meta-analysis of studies that examined hereditary effects on the risk of developing Parkinson's disease for each polymorphism.
The researchers then performed three separate randomized Mendelian analyzes to evaluate the effect of iron on Parkinson's disease in the three polymorphisms. The findings showed odds that were statistically significant at a ratio of 0.97 for Parkinson's disease with an increase of 10 micrograms per 100 ml in the iron level in the blood, which corresponded to a 3% decrease in the risk of Parkinson's disease for every increase of 10 micrograms per 100 ml in the blood iron level. The researchers explained that because the genotype (hereditary expression) on blood levels represents differences that usually exist throughout adult life, the latest findings reflect an effect of iron throughout life. The researchers say that the latest findings suggest that increased levels of iron in the blood are associated with a relative decrease of 3% in the risk of Parkinson's disease for every increase of 10 micrograms per 100 ml in the level of iron in the blood. The study authors conclude that an increase in iron levels in the blood can protect against Parkinson's disease.
