RESUMO
A substantial body of epidemiological and experimental data suggests the significance of serum iron as an important cardiovascular risk factor. There are many conflicting reports on the hypothesis that body iron stores are associated with risk of coronary heart disease. The likely mechanism by which iron may play a pathogenic role in cardiovascular disease has been postulated. The recent discovery of the HFE C282Y mutation commonly seen in hereditary hemochromatosis and its reported association with increased risk of coronary heart disease has increased the need to evaluate its role in the development of cardiovascular disease. Overall, understanding the role of iron in relation to cardiovascular health may be an important tool to help stratify risk for cardiovascular disease.