Which factors increase the risk of iron toxicity?

• A. Chronic alcoholism and genetics
• B. Regular exercise and high fiber intake
• C. Adequate sleep and hydration
• D. High fat diet

Answer: (A)

Iron toxicity risk rises when there are factors that push more iron into the body or impair its handling, especially genetic factors that boost absorption and liver-related damage from alcohol. Chronic alcoholism can both damage the liver and increase intestinal iron absorption, promoting iron deposition in organs. Genetic predisposition, such as mutations that cause hereditary hemochromatosis, leads to higher baseline iron absorption from the gut, increasing the likelihood of overload over time. Together, these elements create a situation where iron can accumulate to toxic levels.

The other options don’t raise iron overload risk in the same way. Regular exercise and high fiber intake don’t increase iron absorption to toxic levels; adequate sleep and hydration aren’t linked to iron overload; and a high fat diet isn’t a known driver of iron toxicity.