Ilex paraguariensis (A. St.-Hil.) leaf infusion decreases iron absorption in patients with hereditary hemochromatosis: a randomized controlled crossover study

Food Funct. 2021 Aug 21;12(16):7321-7328. doi: 10.1039/d1fo00482d. Epub 2021 Jun 26.

Abstract

This study proposed to investigate the effect of Ilex paraguariensis infusion on the absorption of non-heme iron in hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) patients with the HFE genotype. A two-way randomized, controlled, crossover trial was conducted on patients, aged 29-69 years, undergoing maintenance therapy. Fourteen HFE-HH patients ingested a meal containing 11.4 mg iron and 200 mL either of water (control) or of Ilex paraguariensis leaf infusion. The beverages were offered in random order, at intervals separated by a washout period of 7 days. Active surveillance showed no adverse effects. Blood samples were drawn shortly before and 1, 2, 3, and 4 h after the meal for serum iron measurement. A significant reduction in the postprandial serum iron was observed for HH patients after intake of the Ilex paraguariensis infusion (area under the curve (AUC) expressed as mean ± SEM: 173.3 ± 44.7 μmol h-1 L-1) compared to water (1449.4 ± 241.5 μmol h-1 L-1) (p < 0.001). In summary, intake of Ilex paraguariensis leaf infusion significantly inhibited the absorption of iron in patients with HH and, therefore, should be considered as a potential adjuvant for iron overload control.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Beverages
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Female
  • Hemochromatosis / blood*
  • Humans
  • Ilex paraguariensis / metabolism*
  • Iron Overload / blood*
  • Iron Overload / prevention & control*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Plant Extracts / blood
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plant Leaves / metabolism*

Substances

  • Plant Extracts