Attention ALL MAG-pies and MAG-nets…
Iron Toxicity Post #55: Ferritin is NOTHING, Hemosiderin is EVERYTHING!…
Have I got your attention, yet?… I sure hope that you’re WELL rested for this one!
Today’s Iron Toxicity Post is NOT an April Fool’s Joke.
Today’s Iron Toxicity Post IS, however, a GAME CHANGER!…
I am DONE with the incessant NONSENSE about Ferritin this, and Ferritin that… esp. from folks who try to tell me that their Thyroid Rx meds simply won’t work UNLESS their Ferritin is ~100 ng/mL… Omg! MAG me with a spoon!… Anyone who REALLY believes that deserves their Endocriminologist!…
I realize that’s a bit offensive, but today I’m RE-DEFINING the Landscape of our understanding about the Copper<>Iron Dynamic…
Let me share a recent conversation that I had with Sir Douglas B. Kell, PhD, Knighted in 2014 for his pioneering and penetrating research into Ferritin (“Iron Behaving Badly,” 2009a) and whose research lab is at the University of Manchester in Great Britain. It was an honor just to be able to spend some time with him, and also a bit humbling when I realized we were the SAME age! OMg!… (Where’s MY Knighthood?!?…)
And he had actually watched my video, liked it and even said that I was “Spot on!” re the Pathogens & critters LIVING on that Iron… (YES!… Score one for the Mg Man!…)
The highlight of the conversation, however, was when I asked him, point blank, what is the IDEAL level of Ferritin in the Serum?… With NO hesitation, he answered: “Zero!”
I said, “Excuse me?…” Did you REALLY just say “Zero?!?”… And he simply smiled!
I then pointed out, “Do you realize that you are in VIOLENT opposition with EVERY practitioner on this Planet?… He merely smiled…
But he went on to comment: “Morley, Ferritin levels are NOT a sign of ‘Iron vitality.’ They are a sign of tissue PATHOPHYSIOLOGY. The ONLY time Ferritin shows up in the serum is when organ cells are breaking down. By the time that Ferritin protein shows up in the blood, the Iron inside it is likely ALREADY released. (Please NOTE: each molecule of Ferritin can hold 4,500 atoms of Iron…) The Ferritin showing up in the blood is most likely the protein, WITHOUT the Iron!”
OK, so that short, but engaging conversation absolutely “rattled my cage,” literally & figuratively. It’s worth noting that Ferritin is, in fact, a “cage” that can hold all those 4,500 Iron atoms, as noted above ^^^^. As we read on, please remember that Ferritin comes in TWO flavors: Heavy-chain Ferritin with Ferroxidase function, and Light-chain Ferritin with NO Ferroxidase function. (Your favorite M.ineral D.enialist has pointed that out to you, right?!?…)
So that life-changing conversation two weeks ago, really got me to thinking and reflecting on what else I DIDN’T know about Copper<>Iron metabolism. It didn’t take the Universe too long to drop the BOMB in my lap, and that’s exactly what occurred this am…
I decided to do something that I had NEVER done… Google: Hemosiderin Ferroxidase
YOWSER!…
I hit the Google JACKPOT!!!
Up came a BLOCKBUSTER article: Welch, KD et al, 2007, “The Effect of Copper Deficiency on the Formation of Hemosiderin in Sprague-Dawley Rats” BIOMETALS 20:829-839.
For ALL those who are seeking to BETTER understand Copper<>Iron Metabolism…
For ALL those who are terrified that they are “Anemic!”…
For ALL those who wonder if there is MORE to this Iron-ic story…
PLEASE READ THIS ^^^^ ARTICLE. PLEASE PRINT OUT A COPY FOR YOUR DOCTOR. PLEASE REQUEST THAT THEY READ IT, TOO!… Imho, it will save your life. Period.
Yes, it is THAT important.
Knowing that there are those that will NOT take the time to hunt down that article, let me quote some of the MOST compelling passages:
- “Rats fed Copper-deficient diets [that would be MOST of US Rats, too…] had no detectable ACTIVE [emphasis added] serum Ceruloplasmin, which indicates that they were FUNCTIONALLY [emphasis added] Copper deficient.” (Please NOTE: “Copper Toxicity = Copper Deficient = LACK OF FUNCITONAL COPPER… That phrase, Copper Deficiency, is CODE for low to no functionality, NOT lack of the mineral. And this is TRUE of Iron, too, I might add… Topic for another Post.)
- “Animals deficient in Copper [i.e. LOW in Ferroxidase Function] have an increased amount of Hemosiderin.” (Has your doctor EVER mentioned your Hemosiderin levels to you?… Hemosiderin is where Iron gets stored in a BANK VAULT with NO key… Hemosiderin is an adaptation to the Greek word, “Siderophore” that means “Iron Carrier” as depicted in the Figure BELOW…)
- “Additionally, numerous studies have shown that animals fed IRON SUPPLEMENTED DIETS [that would be MOST of US Rats, again…] have increased amounts of Hemosiderin” (Chua-Anusorn et al, 1999; Richter, 1984; Whittaker et al, 1996)
- “Therefore, it is possible that any condition which results in Iron being loaded into Ferritin via its own Ferroxidase or by overwhelming the ability of the Ferroxidase to load Iron into Ferritin PROPERLY [emphasis added], may result in increased Hemosiderin formation.
The significance of what this team DISCOVERED is that when Ferritin does NOT have Ferroxidase (as in the Light-chain Ferritin) – the KEY cellular enzyme outside of Ferritin’s own enzyme – the Iron does NOT get loaded into the Ferritin PROPERLY, and that faulty Ferritin protein becomes essentially Hemosiderin.
This ^^^^ is a MIND-BENDER, MAG-pies & MAG-nets…
- “We provide data that Copper deficient rats [LOW in Ferroxidase function] have an unusual deposition of Iron in their Hepatocytes (Liver cells), indicating the formation of Hemosiderin. We also provide data that Copper deficiency results in an increased Iron content of the Hemosiderin fraction isolated from rat liver.”
- “Additionally, we demonstrated that these results are associated with a lack of ACTIVE Copper-containing enzyme which has been shown to SAFELY LOAD IRON INTO FERRITIN, in vivo.” [emphasis added] (When has your favorite M.ineral D.enialist EVER told you that Ferroxidase enzyme is ESSENTIAL for proper Iron loading into your Ferritin?!?… Ever?!? And how many times have you heard it/read it here on MAG FB Group?… 😉 )
- “A number of studies suggest that Copper plays an integral role in the cellular Iron Homeostasis, due to the fact that defects in Copper metabolism, as well as dietary-Copper deficiency have been shown to have PROFOUND [emphasis added] effects on cellular and systemic Iron Homeostasis.” (Chen, et al, 2006; Harris & Gitlin, 1996; Lee et al, 1968; Roeser et al, 1970)
- “Dietary Copper deficiency has been shown to INDUCE an anemia that was not ameliorated by Iron supplementation, however, the condition was completely reversed upon Copper supplementation.” (Lee et al, 1968; Roeser et al, 1970)
- “When Iron is loaded into Ferritin, in vitro, via its own Ferroxidase activity, the Ferritin is damaged.” (deSilva et al, 1992; Van Eden & Aust, 2001; Welch et al, 2001, 2002).
- “This is intriguing because Hemosiderin is thought to be a degradation product of Ferritin.” (Miyazaki et al, 2002; O’Connell et al, 1986; O’Connell & Peters, 1987)
OK, that’s a lot of blah, blah, blah… Trust me, I get that! But this is a KEY development in our collective efforts to push back the tides of INSANITY and the LACK OF INTEGRITY of how Copper<>Iron metabolism are understood and addressed within the world of conventional medical & nutritional treatments. ALL is NOT as we’ve been led to beLIEve.
These results and the implications of these results should send a collective CHILL down ALL of our spines!
My take on reflecting upon my conversation with Dr. Kell, as well as after reading this STUNNER of an article:
- Ferritin does NOT belong in the serum, it should ONLY be found INSIDE the cell where it does it’s work to support the ongoing need for cellular Iron proteins & Iron-Sulfur clusters.
- When Ferritin does show up in the Serum, it is a sign of PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, not a sign of “Iron vitality!” Again, a complete reversal of what we have been TRAINED to beLIEve.
- Ferritin which is INSIDE the cell MUST have access to ADDITIONAL Ferroxidase enzyme inside the cell to load Iron PROPERLY. When has your M.ineral D.enialist EVER, EVER mentioned the need for Ferroxidase enzyme that ONLY cellular Ceruloplasmin can provide?…
- When Ferritin does NOT have access to this KEY Ferroxidase enzyme, the Iron does NOT load properly into Ferritin, it gets DAMAGED and takes on the properties of Hemosiderin, and when that happens, the access to that Iron becomes compromised.
- Hemosiderin builds up in our tissues and organs as we age… Imagine that! As the “Stressors!” of life build, the body’s ability to make Ferroxidase drops, and Iron builds up in the: Liver, Lungs, Spleen, Kidneys, Lymph Nodes, Bone Marrow & Eyes. Hmmmmmm… Aren’t those ALL of the KEY sights for chronic disease?… The ONLY major site missing is the Brain – I’m confident that it’s there, too… (Wow, those findings seem to further validate and support the Root Cause Video…)
Are you ALL beginning to CONNECT THESE IRON-IC DOTS?!?…
- The Iron in Hemosiderin is INSOLUBLE and allegedly does NOT come out. I find that hard to believe, but it is the Storage equivalent of a BANK VAULT with NO KEY… (More on that later)
- And MOST importantly, Hemosiderin NEVER shows up in ANY blood test. It is ONLY found in the tissue of those Organs noted above ^^^^ and requires either a needle biopsy or the use of sophisticated and expensive scanning equipment…
Now, here’s the BEST part. This is how the article comes to a close…
“However, the mechanism(s) by which Copper is involved in Iron metabolism remains largely unknown.”
I TRULY believe that that sentence ^^^^ is a factual statement, but the RESEARCH KNOWLEDGE is, indeed, there, it is just that conventional MSM Education ELECTS NOT TO TEACH THIS TRUTH. Therefore, it REMAINS “unknown.” (It, too, is placed in a BANK VAULT!)
This is VERY MUCH in keeping with the classic description of Allopathic medicine:
“Not known, because NOT looked for…”
And the article does add further insights to bring the article to a provocative close with this point:
“It is possible that a Copper-containing enzyme, such as Ceruloplasmin, may play a role in Iron metabolism due to its Ferroxidase activity and its ability to load Iron into Ferritin.” (deSilva & Aust, 1992; Guo et al, 1996; Juan et al, 1997; Juan & Aust, 1998; Reilly et al, 1998; Reilly, 1999; Reilly & Aust, 1998)
MY QUESTION TO YOU ALL: Do you HONESTLY think the Iron Researchers are AT ALL confused about the central role of Ferroxidase activity in Iron metabolism?!?… Yeah, me neither. I’m mightily impressed, however, by the scope of the research that exists to back up these mineral truths.
OK, so what to do?…
- Read this article SEVERAL times!
- Request that your doctor do the SAME!
- Please watch the Root Cause Video once more! (http://gotmag.org/the-root-cause-protocol/)
- Please get the FULL Monty Iron Panel and learn the TRUTH of your Copper<>Iron metabolism (http://requestatest.com/mag-zinc-copper-panel-with-iron-panel-testing)
- Please get the FULL Monty Iron Panel PROPERLY interpreted by a practitioner NOT LOST in Ferritin-ONLY thinking, and one that can think OUTSIDE the Box of Iron-ic Convention…
- If your doctor EVER says, “You’re ANEMIC!” Please do NOT panic, and simply ask the following THREE KEY QUESTIONS:
- Could it possibly be that my Ferroxidase activity is too low?
- Could it possibly be an increased production of Hemosiderin?
- And if your favorite M.ineral D.enialist huffs & puffs about those NOT being at all relevant, simply ask the KILLER question: “How would you know, Doctor, if you haven’t measured EITHER ONE OF THOSE KEY MARKERS?”
- Please ENGAGE in the Root Cause Protocol (STOPS & STARTS) and take action on INCREASING the Ferroxidase activity of your Ceruloplasmin. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did!
Well, we’ve covered A LOT of ground today. I know that this Post introduces several new concepts and some challenging material, but it ALSO builds on mineral concepts that we’ve been harping on here at the MAG FB Group for the past 18 months.
I will await the comments, the questions and the inevitable push-back… 😉
We are FORGING NEW GROUND here, MAG-pies & MAG-nets!… I’m delighted that we have this opportunity to learn together & APPLY these ground-breaking truths in our respective lives and the lives of those we care for the most…
A votre sante!
Morley Robbins
