Medical research

Fat tissue's "iron sink"

Adipose tissue, commonly called "body fat," stores excess fatty acids and supplies it back when the need arises. Finely balanced iron levels are important for the health of adipocytes, the cells that make up adipose tissue. ...

Health

Feeling worn out? You could have iron overload

Feeling a bit tired and worn out? Vague symptoms like these are common in iron deficiency and anaemia. But before you reach for the iron supplements or chow down on steak, these symptoms are common in another condition related ...

Medical research

Study proposes new protocol for treatment of thalassemia

Iron accumulation in myocardial cells, potentially resulting in heart failure or fatal arrhythmia, is one of the complications most feared by patients with thalassemia major, a hereditary disease also known as Mediterranean ...

Medical research

Drug-like peptides show promise in treating two blood diseases

New research suggests that synthetic peptides called minihepcidins may potentially treat two serious genetic blood diseases in children and adults. Although those diseases, beta-thalassemia and polycythemia vera, have opposite ...

Parkinson's & Movement disorders

The connection between excess iron and Parkinson's disease

It's long been known that excess iron is found in the brains of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), an incurable neurodegenerative condition that affects motor function. The mechanism by which the iron wreaks damage on ...