Hemochromatosis and Vitamin C
Authors: James C. Barton, Paul C. Adams, Lawrie W. Powell
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1999)

Letters21 September 1999Hemochromatosis and Vitamin CJames C. Barton, MD, Paul C. Adams, MD, and Lawrie W. Powell, MD, PhDJames C. Barton, MDSouthern Iron Disorders Center; Birmingham, AL 35209 (Barton)London Health Sciences Center; London, Ontario N6A 5A5, Canada (Adams)Queensland Institute of Medical Research, University of Queensland; Brisbane 4029 QLD, Australia (Powell)Search for more papers by this author, Paul C. Adams, MDSouthern Iron Disorders Center; Birmingham, AL 35209 (Barton)London Health Sciences Center; London, Ontario N6A 5A5, Canada (Adams)Queensland Institute of Medical Research, University of Queensland; Brisbane 4029 QLD, Australia (Powell)Search for more papers by this author, and Lawrie W. Powell, MD, PhDSouthern Iron Disorders Center; Birmingham, AL 35209 (Barton)London Health Sciences Center; London, Ontario N6A 5A5, Canada (Adams)Queensland Institute of Medical Research, University of Queensland; Brisbane 4029 QLD, Australia (Powell)Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-131-6-199909210-00022 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSEIn persons who have thalassemia major with iron overload, vitamin C (ascorbic acid) can mobilize iron stored in reticuloendothelial cells, sometimes leading to acute cardiac toxicity (1). Withdrawal of vitamin C supplementation has been associated with improvement of left ventricular function, and vitamin C deficiency may protect against the cardiac effects of iron overload in patients with thalassemia major (1). In contrast, there is little published evidence that vitamin C mobilizes large quantities of iron or induces acute (or chronic) toxicity in hemochromatosis. Urinary iron excretion, a measure of iron mobilization, was not increased by oral vitamin C ...References1. Neinhuis AW. Vitamin C and iron [Editorial]. N Engl J Med. 1981;304:170-1. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Conte D, Brunelli L, Ferrario L, Mandelli C, Quatrini M, Velio P, et al . Effect of ascorbic acid on desferrioxamine-induced urinary iron excretion in idiopathic hemochromatosis. Acta Haematol. 1984;72:117-20. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. McLaran CJ, Bett JH, Nye JA, Halliday JW. Congestive cardiomyopathy and haemochromatosis—rapid progression possibly accelerated by excessive ingestion of ascorbic acid. Aust N Z J Med. 1982;12:187-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Brissot P, Deugnier Y, Le Treut A, Regnouard F, Simon M, Bourel M. Ascorbic acid status in idiopathic hemochromatosis. Digestion. 1978;17:479-87. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: James C. Barton, MD; Paul C. Adams, MD; Lawrie W. Powell, MD, PhDAffiliations: Southern Iron Disorders Center; Birmingham, AL 35209 (Barton)London Health Sciences Center; London, Ontario N6A 5A5, Canada (Adams)Queensland Institute of Medical Research, University of Queensland; Brisbane 4029 QLD, Australia (Powell) PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoManagement of Hemochromatosis James C. Barton , Sharon M. McDonnell , Paul C. Adams , Pierre Brissot , Lawrie W. Powell , Corwin Q. Edwards , James D. Cook , Kris V. Kowdley , and Hemochromatosis and Vitamin C Victor Herbert ACI-TIPI Clinical Trial Kevin P. Weinfurt , Saif S. Rathore , and Kevin A. Schulman Metrics Cited byFamine, tea, and bread in Ireland: C282Y and modern human microevolution 21 September 1999Volume 131, Issue 6Page: 476KeywordsBeta-thalassemiaCardiomyopathiesCellsHemochromatosisIngestionPancreasPatient advocacyThalassemiaToxicityVitamin C ePublished: 15 August 2000 Issue Published: 21 September 1999 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 1999 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...