Blood Donations and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Men
This study does not support the popular belief that iron overload may be a risk factor for heart disease in humans. The fact that women have lower rates of heart disease than men until they stop menstruating has been attributed to loss of iron during menses. One thing to remember…it is oxidized iron that causes the damage. Maintaining healthy antioxidant status may be an important factor if iron overload does prove to be a factor.
Circulation — Abstracts: Ascherio et al. 103 (1): 52