Natural Iron Chelators: An Orthomolecular Approach to Treat Iron Overload and Its Related Diseases

Abstract

Despite its various vital roles in the different body’s metabolisms, iron may have a hazardous impact on health when it exceeds its normal values. Iron overload is triggered by many genetic and behavioral factors. Furthermore, excessive iron levels have also been observed in many pathologies such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cardiovascular and some cancerous diseases. This paper describes a set of natural iron chelators as an effective and a safe orthomolecular approach in chelating iron. Orthomolecular medicine is based on providing patients with nutritional supplementation at high doses to treat and prevent diseases. This paper describes the properties of a set of flavonoids and phenolic acids such as curcumin and ferulic acid that can be administered as supplements to patients suffering from iron overload since they are classified as strong chelators. Those natural iron chelators’ supplements are mainly extracted from fruits, vegetables, and plants. As chelators, they are able to bind effectively to iron, inhibit the production of reactive oxygen species, and reduce the levels of oxidative stress. They can also play an effective therapeutic role in the treatment of neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, diabetic, and cancerous diseases thanks to their iron chelation, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.