Iron toxicity and antioxidant nutrients.

Iron is an essential nutrient for the growth, development, and long-term survival of most organisms. High tissue iron concentrations have been associated with the development and progression of several pathological conditions, including certain cancers, liver and heart disease, diabetes, hormonal abnormalities, and immune system dysfunctions. In this review we discuss the relevance of iron toxicity on free radical-mediated tissue damage, and how iron interactions with nutrient antioxidants and other metals can affect the extent of oxidative damage to different biomolecules. It can be concluded that the ingestion of antioxidant rich foods may prevent or delay primary and secondary effects associated with iron overload-related diseases.