On Fri, 22 May 1998, Buji Kern wrote:
> Arguing against it being a major factor in HG's is that it takes its
> heaviest toll on children, and the tall stature and well developed
> skeletons attributed to HG's would be pretty hard to obtain growing up
iron
> deficient.
Actually, Gary Ditta's hypothesis is that hereditary
hemochromatosis is a consequence of a partial adaptation to a
grain-based diet. Since grains in the diet tend to inhibit the
absorption of iron and other minerals, a mutation in the
direction of more tenacious storage of iron would be advantageous
--- unless one then attempts to return to a diet rich in red
meat. HGs would not carry this mutation, so iron overload would
not be a problem for them. This probably makes more sense than
the bleeding theory.
Todd Moody
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