Women are told to make sure that they get enough iron in their diet to prevent anemia, or iron-poor blood. When women are in their reproductive years and losing blood during their monthly menstrual cycles, their iron levels can become depleted. However, this is not the case when a woman is post-menopausal.
No Monthly Blood Loss
Too little iron can be problematic, but too much can also create problems. Menopausal women are no longer menstruating, so they aren't losing blood each month, which means that they are less likely to become anemic or iron-deficient.
Too Much Iron
According to Dietary-supplement.info.nih.gov, lower levels of iron in menstruating women may account for the lower rates of coronary heart disease in this group. In menopause, a woman's risk of heart disease is comparable to a man's, and it may be caused in part by the fact that women are storing too much iron at this stage of their lives, which can lead to heart issues.
Iron's Effects
Iron is known to stimulate the activity of free radicals, which are byproducts of oxygen metabolism. Free radicals are linked to cardiovascular disease.
Negatives
Free radicals are believed to damage and inflame coronary arteries, which are the vessels that supply blood to the heart. When inflammation occurs, this may result in atherosclerosis, a partial or complete blockage of one or more of the coronary arteries. Iron may, in fact, contribute to the oxidation of "bad" cholesterol (low-density lipoproteins) and change it into a form that is detrimental to the coronary arteries.
Iron Absorption Inhibited May Be Good
In those countries where less meat is eaten and more fiber---which inhibits iron absorption and slows down gastrointestinal blood and iron loss---is consumed, there is a lower rate of heart disease, according to Dietary-supplements.info.hib.gov.
Toxicity
There is the possibility for iron toxicity if you are excreting very little iron from your blood. Iron can amass in your organs and tissues when the regular storage sites become full. The Mayo Clinic says that menopausal women may no longer require iron supplementation. Ask your physician for her input.
Tags: coronary arteries, heart disease, arteries Iron, coronary arteries Iron, Free radicals
