Medical Xpress February 13, 2025
Our immune systems rely on iron to function, but so do invading viruses and bacteria. New research from Binghamton University, State University of New York studying health care workers in Nigeria during COVID, reveals that very early in the arms race—when an infectious disease is emerging and still very new to humans—iron nutrition tradeoffs are in play.
The research is published in the journal Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health.
Your body is ground zero for a cellular arms race.
Your mitochondria, red blood cells and immune system rely on iron to function; so do invading viruses and bacteria. As your body evolves safeguards for this most critical resource, these safeguards select for invaders that can overcome them.
“Iron is physiologically...
Today's Sponsors
Today's Sponsor