Environmental Risk Factors For Iron Overload-related Disease In A Cohort Study Of Hereditary Haemochromatosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$152,936.00
Summary
Results published last year from our Melbourne HealthIron study of hereditary haemochromatosis (iron overload disease) show that almost one third of the 50,000 men genetically at risk of iron overload in Australia will develop symptoms of disease including fatigue, arthritis and liver damage. We will use data from the recent follow-up of the Health2020 cohort, of which HealthIron is a sub-study, to determine environmental risk factors for progression to disease in people with iron overload.
Novel Genetic And Environmental Modifiers Of The Risk Of Iron Overload-related Disease In HFE-associated Hereditary Haemochromatosis In Cohort Of Middle-aged Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$451,716.00
Summary
People who carry mutations in the HFE gene are pre-disposed to body iron overload but not all of them developed subsequent disease. According to the investigators of the “HealthIron” study in Melbourne, only 28% of men and 1% of women with faulty HFE genes go on to develop disease. This study has recruited more than 1,000 people from the community, and will determine which environmental and genetic risk factors stop people with iron overload from getting symptoms of disease.