Iron, infection and the evolutionary ecology of heart disease

Levels of iron intake and stored iron have been implicated as risk factors for coronary heart disease. More recently, considerable interest has center ed on the role of a variety of infectious pathogens, particulary bacterial pathogens, in the development of artherosclerosis and heart disease. The me chanism whereby elevated iron levels increase the risk of coronary heart di sease is not well understood. Here it is proposed that the influence of iro n levels on the persistence, pervasiveness and intensity of bacterial infec tions may play an important role in the development of coronary heart disea se. (C) 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.