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
[log in to unmask]