Iron's role with tuberculosis

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As early as 1782 the French internist Armand Trousseau warned his medical students of the dangers of administering iron to tuberculosis patients.

In a survey conducted in South Africa, patients who consumed a locally produced beer, rich in iron, had a 17-fold increased risk to developing active tuberculosis. [J Infectious Diseases 184: 936-39, 2001]

Iron is a significant growth factor for all viruses, fungi, and bacteria like mycobacteria such as TB and PARA-TB. [J Neurochemistry 62: 1097-1101, 1994] Mice infected with mycobacterium whose chow is fortified with iron experience a 12-fold rise in bacterial load compared to mice given normal chow. Fat added with iron further increases infection. [Microbios 87: 77-87, 1996]

Mycobacterium paratuberculosis is only able to survive in a host (animal, human) that can provide iron for its growth. [Trends Molecular Medicine 7:247-52, 2001]

Unbound iron plays a key role in damage to the substantia nigra portion of the brain that is involved in Parkinson�s disease. [J Alzheimer�s Disease 6: S47-52, 2004] The risk for Parkinson�s disease is elevated in milk drinkers, likely due to the presence of PARA-TB.

Iron-rich acidic soil harbors PARA where it is transmitted to cattle. The application of an alkaline substance (lime) to pasture areas reduces the risk of PARA animal infection. [Am J Veterinary Research 60: 589-96, 1999]

Iron levels are linked to Parkinson�s disease. [Nat Rev Neuroscience 5:863-73, 2004] Males have higher iron levels are at a greater risk for Parkinson�s disease than females. [J Neurology Neurosurgery Psychiatry 75: 637-39, 2004]

Phytic acid [IP6] (inositol hexaphosphate), found naturally in seeds and bran, is nature�s most potent iron chelator (remover). [Cancer 56:717-8, 1985. Free Radical Biology Medicine 8:61-9, 1990; J Biological Chemistry 262:11647-50, 1987] It is available as an extract from rice bran, identified as IP6 in health food stores. Use of IP6 with water on an empty stomach will maximize effect. Periodic use of IP6 rice bran extract by full-grown males or post-hysterectomy/post-menopausal females, should reduce the risk of harboring mycobacteria like tuberculosis.