Just as a point of interest, the Eades in Protein Power Lifeplan speculate
that premenopausal women have less heart disease than men because monthly
menstruation lowers their levels of iron - not due to estrogen.  After
menopause, women no longer have this naturally iron lowering event.  This is
also mentioned by Dr. Kilmer McCully in his book "The Heart Revolution".  He
was shunned by the medical/scientific community for refusing to go along
with the belief that cholesterol caused heart disease instead of simply
being a symptom like heart disease itself.  He did pioneering research in
the homocysteine/heart disease connection back in the late 1960's.

Paula H.

-----Original Message-----

It sounds like you are talking about hemochromatosis...it is
inherited...IIRC, it is more prevalent in men than women. I have known 2
unrelated people with this disorder...they were told to donate blood (that
gets destroyed) every six weeks to control the disease.