Lowering body iron stores in the prevention of type 2 diabetes

It iswell known that changes in lifestyle are considered the cornerstone in the prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In this setting, we suggest that dietary intervention aimed at reducing body iron stores might be a useful tool in preventing diabetes. Serum ferritin, a good indicator of the iron stored in the body,hasbeenshowntobeassociatedwithan increased risk for diabetes. However, a small intervention study in patientswith type2 diabetesmellituswith increased ferritin levels provided evidence that blood letting, which resulted in 50% reduction of serum ferritin concentrations, improved glycaemia and insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, low-fat dairy consumption and habitual coffee intake havebeen shown tobeassociatedwitha substantially lower risk of type 2 diabetes; interestingly, bothmilk products and coffee have been clearly shown to inhibit iron absorption. Letters to the Editor