Chronic mold exposure can have a wide range of negative effects on human health. Mold exposure is often linked to systemic health problems, and there is emerging evidence suggesting that it may be linked to iron-related disorders, which is why you need to do a mold assessment. The body tightly regulates iron absorption and distribution to prevent both deficiency and overload. Disruption in this delicate balance can result in iron deficiency anemia, characterized by fatigue, dizziness and weakness. On the contrary, it can cause conditions related to iron overload such as hemochromatosis, which can damage organs over time. There are many mechanisms in which this disruption in iron balance occurs. Mold toxins may impact red blood cells, hemoglobin production, liver health, mitochondrial health, and overall blood health, impacting iron in various ways.
One of the common disorders related to mold exposure, is anemia. Anemia is a condition characterized by a deficiency in the number or quality of red blood cells (RBCs), which are responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body.
Mold Can Cause Iron-Related Disorders
This condition is commonly the result of insufficient iron. Mycotoxins (produced by mold spores), have a tenacity to mess with proteins that drive metabolic processes of all sorts. They often slow down patients’ ability to make proteins, one of these being heme. Heme is the base protein of hemoglobin, found in red blood cells (and what carries oxygen in to our blood). Slow production of heme leads to slow production of hemoglobin. When production of hemoglobin is slow, the body is slower at making red blood cells, which, thus, leads to anemia.
Another mechanism in which iron disruption occurs from mold exposure, is through the effects it can have on the liver. Mycotoxins can damage the liver, which is responsible for storing and recycling iron, a key nutrient necessary for red blood cell production. Without adequate iron, the body cannot produce enough red blood cells, again, leading to anemia. The strain mycotoxins have on the liver can also lead to iron overload and a condition called hemochromatosis, which can have detrimental effects on the body over time. Essentially, mold exposure can lead to iron overload through impaired detoxification pathways through the liver.
Another contributor to iron disruption (both too low and too high), is decreased mitochondrial functioning. Mycotoxins are notorious disruptors of mitochondrial function, as mediated by oxidative stress. Mitochondria are the powerhouses of the cells and it is imperative that they have proper functionality in order to sustain healthy energy levels in the body. This decreased functioning can result in disruptions of membrane potential and other key bodily processes. Additionally, mycotoxins are known initiators of lipid peroxidation (a damaging process in the body where free radicals attack lipids, particularly those in cell membranes, leading to cell damage and inflammation). This can also injure mitochondrial functionality.
It crucial to rule out the possibility that chronic mold exposure may be contributing to conditions related to iron disruption if one is diagnosed with them, or suspects they may be dealing with them. Avoiding mold and proper mold toxicity treatment under supervised care can be majorly helpful in getting to the root of these iron-related conditions.