> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.foodconsumer.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# High serum iron linked to high cancer risk
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/high_serum_iron_linked_to_high_cancer_risk_0919140855/
- Published: 2014-09-19T09:54:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:19:08.000Z
- Description: Taiwanese researchers followed 309,443 cancer-free adults and found serum iron at or above 120 ug/dL linked to 25% more cancers and 39% higher cancer mortality. The relationship was J-shaped, and liver cancer risk rose sharply in people with hepatitis B.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Nutrition, #vivvo-import

Friday Sep 19, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- Scientists at National Health Research Institutes in Taiwan published a report in Cancer Research suggesting that taking supplements with iron can be harmful, that is, high serum iron can increase cancer risk.

Epidemiological studies have linked high serum iron with cancer risk. The current study confirmed that high serum iron concentrations is associated with high risk of cancer and cancer-related mortality.

The study was based on data from 309,443 men and women in Taiwan who had no cancer at baseline and they were followed to examine the association of serum iron levels and risk of cancer.

One thirds of men and one fifth of women had high serum iron (equal to or greater than 120 ug/dL of serum iron) were associated with 25% increased risk of all incident cancers and 39% increased risk of dying from all sorts of cancer.

The relationship between serum iron and cancer risk was J-shaped. At both lower than 60 ug/dL and higher than 120 ug/dL, an increase in cancer risk was observed. At the higher end, every 10ug/dL increment above 80 ug/dL was correlated with 4% increased risk of cancer.

Those who had higher iron but no hepatitis B virus were 3 times as likely as those who had lower iron to develop liver cancer. Among those with hepatitis B virus, those with high serum iron were 24 times as likely as those who had lower iron to develop liver cancer.

Higher serum iron (140 ug/dL or higher) was mostly associated with 200% and 31% increased risk for liver cancer and breast cancer, respectively. (David Liu, PHD)

Wen CP, Lee JH, Tai YP, Wen C, Wu SB, Tsai MK, Hsieh DP, Chiang HC, Hsiung CA, Hsu CY, Wu X. High serum iron is associated with increased cancer risk. Cancer Res. 2014 Sep 16\.