Does Iron Worsen Parkinson Disease?

Adults store one to three grams of iron in their bodies (about 1/10 ounce), which is maintained through a balance between dietary intake and loss. After iron is absorbed, it is bound to a circulating protein called transferrin, which attaches to receptors on specific cells such as the substantia nigra neurons and is carried into the cell.

After binding to the receptor on the cell’s surface, transferrin is taken into the cell where it detaches itself from the receptor and releases the iron where it binds and is stored for later use. As the pigmented granules disappear, iron is released into the cell and, alone or attached to other molecules, acts as a free radical.

There are some researchers who believe that rasagiline, a drug that blocks a specific enzyme called MAO-B, may among other mechanisms remove (chelate) the excess iron in the cell and that this may slow the progression of PD.