Most Men Miss This Blood Marker Until It’s Too Late
I didn’t feel sick.
No obvious symptoms. No major red flags.
But at 38, during a deep dive with a functional medicine doctor, something unexpected showed up in my blood work: my iron levels were creeping up.
At first, I didn’t think much of it. I ate a high-protein, animal-based diet. I trained hard.
I recovered well (or so I thought).
But my Iron Studies panel told a different story.
My ferritin was high.
My transferrin saturation was elevated.
Something wasn’t right.
That’s when we ran genetic testing, and there it was: I had the genes for hemochromatosis.
What is Hemochromatosis?
Hemochromatosis is a genetic condition where your body absorbs too much iron from the food you eat. Unlike nutrients your body can excrete easily, excess iron gets stored in organs like the liver, heart, and pancreas, slowly causing damage over time.
Left unchecked, this silent overload can lead to:
Liver disease (including cirrhosis or cancer)
Heart problems like arrhythmias or heart failure
Type 2 diabetes
Joint pain and arthritis
Chronic fatigue and brain fog
Even early death if undetected
It’s often called the “iron overload disorder,” and here’s where it gets personal:
Hemochromatosis is the most common genetic disorder in people of Northern European descent. It’s estimated that 1 in 200 people have the genes for hereditary hemochromatosis (usually the C282Y and H63D variants of the HFE gene).
But here’s the kicker:
1 in 9 people are carriers
Men are far more likely to experience symptoms and damage from iron buildup, often decades earlier than women.
Why?
Because women naturally lose iron through menstruation and childbirth, which offers a protective buffer in their earlier years. But men don’t have that outlet. That means by the time you’re in your 40s or 50s, iron may have been quietly building up for decades, and unless you check, you won’t know.
It’s a genetic time bomb, and most guys don’t even know they’re carrying it.
Signs and Symptoms of Hemochromatosis
(That Are Easy to Miss in Midlife)
Constant fatigue that doesn’t respond to rest
Brain fog or memory issues
Joint pain or stiffness
Low libido or erectile dysfunction
Abdominal pain
Skin changes (sometimes a bronze tint)
Elevated liver enzymes
Mood issues like depression or irritability
Sound familiar?
The problem is, many of these symptoms are written off as “just getting older.” But in my case, it wasn’t aging, it was iron quietly building up in my body.
Why Iron Studies Matter in Midlife
If you’re a man in your 40s or 50s and haven’t had your Iron Studies done recently, this is your wake-up call.
Iron panels aren’t typically included in routine checkups unless you ask. And without them, hemochromatosis can go undetected for decades.
Here’s what to look for:
Serum Ferritin – reflects iron storage levels
Transferrin Saturation (TS%) – how much iron is bound and circulating
Serum Iron – the amount of iron in the blood
TIBC/UIBC – your body’s capacity to bind iron
When ferritin and transferrin saturation are high, that’s when it’s time to dig deeper.
That’s exactly what I did.
What Changed After Diagnosis
Once I knew I had hemochromatosis genes, I took action.
I began donating blood regularly, one of the simplest, most effective ways to bring down iron levels.
It’s not just about managing symptoms. It’s about protecting your liver, heart, brain, and long-term vitality.
I also adjusted certain supplements (no more multivitamins with iron) and kept a closer eye on my blood markers every 3–6 months.
It wasn’t about fear. It was about ownership.
The Bigger Message: Why Functional Blood Testing Matters
Most of us are taught to only go to the doctor when something feels wrong.
But what if your body is trying to tell you something now, before it becomes a bigger issue?
That’s what functional blood testing gave me.
Clarity. Insight.
A chance to take control of something that could’ve slowly stolen my energy, my health, and my life.
For men in midlife, this isn’t just about iron.
It’s about being proactive instead of reactive.
It’s about catching silent issues, like hemochromatosis, insulin resistance, liver stress, low testosterone, before they crash your system.
Because midlife isn’t the beginning of the end.
It’s the beginning of your legacy.
And that starts with understanding what’s going on beneath the surface.
Ready to stop guessing and start leading your health like a Maverick?
Work with a Functional Medicine Practitioner, not a conventional doctor.
Get your Iron Studies checked.
Run a full panel.
Ask better questions.
Because one test could change your life.
