Iron in NASH, chronic liver diseases and HCC: How much iron is too much?

While iron is essential for many vital functions, there is no regulated means by which excess iron can be disposed of in humans. Therefore, whenever body iron exceeds its needs and storage capabilities are saturated, toxicity due to iron overload may arise. Many causes of iron overload in humans exist, both genetic and acquired. Traditionally, hereditary hemochromatosis and post-transfusion iron overload have been associated with large hepatic iron deposits. However, an increasing number of other conditions are being recognized in which an observed mild or moderate increase of iron stores may have significant clinical relevance [1].