Hemochromatosis

Hemochromatosis, or iron overload, develops after many years of absorbing too much iron. There are three common changes on the HFE gene involved in hereditary hemochromatosis. If you have an HFE mutation, the sooner you know about it, the sooner you can begin reducing the amount of iron your body takes in and prevent or stop the build-up of excess iron. Left untreated, however, HFE mutations can lead to iron overload and potentially fatal organ damage, diabetes, impotence, heart disease and liver cancer. Consult your doctor! DNA Direct offers genetic testing for hemochromatosis for $199. Hemochromatosis affects around 1.5 million Americans, and accounts for about 15 percent of the cases of adult onset diabetes.