Too Much Iron Recent evidence shows that heart attacks may be more likely in men with higher levels of stored iron. Interest in this question was sparked about a decade ago when researchers noticed that women have a low incidence of heart disease prior to menopause.
Heart disease increases dramatically after menopause when menstrual periods stop.
This was always thought to be due to a drop in hormone levels, which is associated with a decrease in the level of good HDL cholesterol. Not surprisingly, iron deficiency is less common after menopause, since iron is no longer lost in menstrual blood each month. Some researchers say that the increase in iron stores during postmenopause may lead to an increased risk for heart disease. This may be because iron can work to make the bad LDL cholesterol worse by making it even more likely to clog arteries. This is especially true since iron deficiency is a common problem in this country.