World Haemochromatosis Awareness Week takes place every year from the 1 to 7 June, and to mark the event, Miriam Forde, Executive Director at the Irish Haemochromatosis Association, provides an overview of what you need to know about the condition.
World Haemochromatosis Awareness Week runs from 1 to 7 June 2026
The Irish Haemochromatosis Association (IHA) is a support group for haemochromatosis patients and their families, with a mission to raise awareness of haemochromatosis, both in the medical and the general population.
Iron overload, or haemochromatosis, is a serious condition in which too much iron is absorbed and stored in the body. It can cause liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, arthritis, diabetes and general fatigue.
Haemochromatosis is hereditary and is more common in Ireland than anywhere in the world. About 1 in 200 people of European origin have the genetic predisposition for haemochromatosis, but in Ireland it is 1 in 83.
The most common symptoms noticed by people with haemochromatosis include:
The early biochemical signs of haemochromatosis tend to be:
Symptoms are often attributed to other causes, leading to a delay in diagnosis. When undetected and untreated, iron overload can result in organ damage and premature death.
A simple blood test to check your iron status can confirm or rule out iron overload. If one or both the serum ferritin (SF) and the transferrin saturation (TS) levels are raised, then a genetic test is carried out to confirm the diagnosis. SF reflects body iron stores; a SF of >200ug/L in pre-menopausal women, and >300ug/L in men and post-menopausal women, suggests that the patient may be iron overloaded. This should prompt a test for fasting TS.
The frequency of venesection depends on initial SF. It may take many months to unload iron. Initially, the treatment can mean weekly phlebotomy sessions to rapidly reduce the ferritin levels. After a normal level has been achieved, maintenance may only require three or four sessions per year for the remainder of the patient’s life.
A significant proportion of patients with newly diagnosed haemochromatosis have abnormal glucose levels. It is recommended that all patients with haemochromatosis are screened for diabetes. Appropriate haemochromatosis treatment with venesection will improve glucose levels, prevent progression to diabetes and improve diabetes control with already established diabetes in haemochromatosis.
Community pharmacists can play an important role in highlighting awareness of Ireland’s most common genetic disorder, as they may see many of their patients at least once a month, potentially over many years — offering opportunities for patients and pharmacists to get to know each other. Over time, relationships of trust develop and people become more comfortable discussing their health and well-being. Community pharmacy can be such a useful primary health service to identify and discuss disorders such as haemochromatosis and refer onwards.
The symptoms of iron overload are diverse and can vary from person to person. Many of the symptoms can be non-specific, for example, general aches and pains, tiredness and mood changes. The risk with some of these symptoms, such as tiredness, is that someone with undiagnosed haemochromatosis may incorrectly self-diagnose this as anaemia and look to start an iron supplement, or a multivitamin that includes iron and Vitamin C (which boosts iron absorption in the body).
When a patient looks to buy an iron supplement or even a multivitamin in the pharmacy, it is advised to initiate a conversation about symptoms, causes, and treatment. If adults, particularly men, look for treatment for general symptoms that could be due to iron overload, this offers pharmacists the opportunity to talk about possible causes and suggestions for referral to their GP. An iron blood test can help rule out a diagnosis of haemochromatosis and may provide additional information about what might be contributing to symptoms.
When someone is diagnosed with haemochromatosis, the community pharmacist is there to talk about the diagnosis and answer questions the person may have, offering practical information to patients, for example avoiding foods fortified with iron and vitamin supplements containing iron (or large amounts of Vitamin C). Pharmacists can also offer advice on how haemochromatosis can lead to an increased risk of osteoporosis, so a calcium/Vitamin D supplement may be appropriate. The increased risk of liver damage with iron overload means that some remedies like paracetamol can be harmful. Promoting further awareness of haemochromatosis is essential in Ireland, where we have the highest rates of the disorder in the world.
Patient Information leaflets on hemochromatosis are available for pharmacies on request. Please phone 01 873 5911 or email info@haemochromatosis.ie for more information. For further information, visit the Irish Haemochromatosis Association website, at haemochromatosis.ie
Miriam Forde
Executive Director, The Irish Haemochromatosis Association
Highlighted Articles
