1.
Biochimie
; 119: 1-5, 2015 Dec.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-26416567
ABSTRACT
The HFE gene encodes a protein involved in iron homeostasis; individuals with mutations in both alleles develop hemochromatosis. 27% of the French population is heterozygous for mutations in this gene. We found that 80% of the French athletes who won international competitions in rowing, Nordic skiing and judo display mutations in one allele of HFE, thus demonstrating the existence of a favourable phenotype linked to this heterozygosity.