Low iron level and afib?

[Nanfranz]

Does anyone know if having low blood iron levels, is connected in any way to afib? As far as I know, my iron level is fine, but someone suggested getting it checked because there can be a connection between low level iron and heart murmur so maybe it affects afib too. Hmmm. Any thoughts on this?

[rosyG]

I haven't heard iron mentioned in connection with AF but logically it might be- of you are anaemic you won't have as much oxygen carried around your system and you mat put a strain on heart/lungs- possible;y a tipping point for triggering things. Potassium and Magnesium are definitely worth thinking about

[Nanfranz in reply to rosyG]

rosyG -- I appreciate your thoughtful response! Very helpful in thinking this through. Many thanks!

[Shalee in reply to rosyG]

I was low on iron a few months back....my heart was racing and wanted to pass out! Had no idea it was low, I started taking Iron and B12 and B6 and stopped smoking! That most likely was the cause for my diffenciancy to begin with!

[Surreyhunni]

I have iron overload disease (hemochromatosis) but still have Afib .... my hemochromatosis specialist says the disease is the probably cause of the afib. So I don't know if being low on it would have the same effect.

[Nanfranz in reply to Surreyhunni]

Hi Surreyhunni (I like your name -- I treasure fond memories my Surrey years!)

Your reply is most interesting and I feel that it pretty much answers my question. I really appreciate all incoming thoughts on a subject, knowing that people have taken the time to post a reply. Thanks so much!

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Nanfranz]

In haemachromatosis I understand that excess iron levels can affect many organs if left untreated and there have been a few members here who's AF is a direct result of it. I don't think low iron has been mentioned in the 15 years I have been around AF things.

[Nanfranz]

Thank you, HappyJo! Your input is valuable and I appreciate it!

[Hidden]

Nanfranz ....i would say that low ferritin levels have a lot to answer for in relation to palpitations in my experience.

Whenever my ferritin levels have been low I've been troubled with tachycardia sometimes converting into AF. I've only just come to realise the connection. I had 3 weeks of atrial tachycardia which became AF and needed DCCV in April.

I requested a ferritin blood test not long after which showed iron deficiency anaemia. 2 months on ferrous fumarate and my energy levels have improved 100% and palpitations greatly reduced.

I would recommend that anyone consistently troubled with tachycardia request a blood test for ferritin levels.

I've had investigation for the anaemia but the outcome of that is another story.

Sandra

[tombeaux]

I have hemochromatosis and by many considered an expert on the subject. many major minerals cleave to iron and in the absence of, complicate and can set off AF.

It is a fact that sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium and boron are the key minerals required to support SA/VA node conduction. Most every mineral to include copper, zinc, molybdenum, manganese, magnesium and others all cleave to iron.

Iron is the nuclei of our red blood cells. As other mentioned the strain on the heart in an O2 depleted environment, with hct/hgb compromised in addition to ferritin and serum iron. However since many seem to scoff at many of my assertions, consider the following:

An elderly woman with severe anemia was hospitalized because of severe debility. On admission her electrocardiogram showed atrial fibrillation. After a transfusion of packed erythrocytes her rhythm converted to a normal sinus mechanism.

jamanetwork.com/journals/ja...

My doctor (gynecologist, not my cardiologist!) figured out that my chronic A-Fib might be related to my low ferritin level which was at 9. After only 6 weeks of taking Repliva (82 mg/day iron), my ferritin level was up to 29 and my A Fib had stopped. (Another over-the-counter iron supplement is Floradix.)

a-fib.com/faq-coping-with-a...

Here is another form PubMed and it seems to tow the line that HF will proceed AF. This isn't rocket science and if it were I live by the Space Center.

Anemia adds to the comorbidity burden of patients with atrial fibrillation and independently increases the risks of adverse outcomes such as increased hospitalization, mortality, bleeding and thromboembolic events.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/279...

Counterpoint Here:

The results of our study support the conclusion

that chronic anemia alone is not a determinant of new-onset AF in a large elderly non-clinical trial community-based population.

jafib.com/published/webForm...

Also: This question was asked in these forums previously.

[Okiowen]

Here`s my experience of a link between iron and AF.

After discovering my Afib the dr. prescribed a large daily dose of Warfarin. I already had an occasional problem with hemorrhoids, but the taking of Warfarin made this problem worse and so I became anaemic. The dr. saw my blood count and put me on iron supplements to boost my iron. The problem then became circular as the iron tablets had a side effect of very solid (and dark!) stools that would then exacerbate the problem by irritating the hemorrhoids. Eventually, after two ablations and a change in drugs, I am no longer anaemic and only very occasionally suffer with the `rhoids. Possibly too much info, but I hope it may be of some use to somebody!

[tombeaux]

When I drive myself too low with phlebotomies to control the hemochromatosis the level of erratic effect on my rhythm is substantial, from a few random skips and pauses to a 60 second strip that looks more than challenged.

When I range my Ferritin at 50-100ng and Iron Serum at around 100, with Total Binding Iron Concentrate TBIC at 30%, it is my sweet spot.

[Diamondgirl5]

Great question! I have heart palpitations and more iron was suggested! But not yet discussed with my doctor. I will tho.

[Scottishmun]

Hi I totally believe my afib has been brought under control by taking an iron supplement (prescribed). It has made a huge difference to how I feel. The Dr proscribed to me when I had my annual check up and as I'm still menstruating and am on anticoagulant she wanted to make sure iron was ok (in other words she wasn't checking because of afib directly). Anyway found levels were very low. Since taking I've had no attacks in nearly 4 months. This was after suffering daily attacks for the prior year.

[tombeaux]

The other aspect that is overlooked when considering the relationship between hemochromatosis (HH) and AF is hormonal consequences.

Hepcidin, produced in the liver, is the master control hormone for iron metabolism. Hepcidin is directly affected by testoserone.

All hormones are a product of LDL cholesterol conversion into pregnenolone, which then goes through a series of enzymatic synthesis to express as other hormone types.

The average/normal/healthy male, for whatever that means, loses 2% of overall hormonal production a year starting at age 25.

For me, by supplementing with 60mg-80mg a week of testosterone cypionate, injected intramuscular into my quads I sustain a lw trough level of total testoterone (TT) at about 500ng/dL.

When I do that I can actually lock my serum iron and ferritin.

The consequences in many of us over 40 years of age that are on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is that is cause a drastic increase in hct/hgb, which increases the plasma pack, increases the thickness of your blood, raises blood pressure and still requires a phlebotomy to manage the side effect.

As for me, I would rather manage the consequences of TRT instead of hemochromatosis directly. The many benefits of TRT, especially and with emphasis, on rhythm, cardiac myocyte production and fitness and AF in general is more than significant.

The landmark study on TRT as related to cardiac, that considered about a thousand men over years of monitoring, concluded that a total testosterone level of 530 ng/dL reduced the chance of heart attack and stroke by a factor of 30%.

In my life, and as part of the protocol I am developing, testosterone and growth hormone are key in combating AF.

The problem is that governments do not want us accessing growth hormone, it resolves many health issues and elongates our lives, which challenges social welfare and the establishment at large.

The consequences of iron flooding glands and organs is key essential in managing and mitigating AF.

There are (3) within my control group, in Indiana, that have sustained NSR for over 3 years by getting the testosterone and growth hormone levels right, prior to undergoing a cardioversion. Yet, when do you ever hear the establishment and convention discuss hormones, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, co-factors, aminos and heavy metal influence.

I would suspect that since hemochromatosis is at the epicenter in Ireland and is prevalent in the region of the UK at large that it would be a key concern in here. The reason they survive the black plague was because of hemochromatosis.

WHEN YOUR PITUITARY IS SATURATED WITH DEPOSITIVE IRON YOU SHALL NOT MAINTAIN NSR, NO WAY, NO HOW, WITHOUT PHLEBOTOMY/CHELATION AND ADJUNCT HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY.

Factor: although challenged, that 1 out of 200 people in the US have hemochromatosis. I am sure it more in the UK.

Yet, they will still cut, burn and freeze and somehow think the underlying issues such as HRT will magically resolve....wishful thinking at best.

If your variables are challenged then change the variables.