Therapy by taking away: the case of iron

The recent finding of the beneficial effects of iron deprivation in the outcome of muscle necrosis in an animal model of genetic myopathy served as the basis of this commentary. Here, "taking away" iron by controlled dietary deprivation is proposed as a reasonable, feasible, cheap, and efficient clinical approach to many diverse diseases, all of which have a free radical component. Indeed, iron potentiates the generation of the highly reactive and toxic hydroxyl radical, and, thus, of oxidative damage. Iron deprivation may represent the first really efficient antioxidant, preventing oxidative stress in all subcellular compartments, tissues, and organs. Iron/iron deprivation also modulates programmed cell death (apoptosis), which should be the subject of further studies to better define the mechanisms mediating these complex effects. Finally, related to its antioxidant effects, iron deprivation may find applications in the anti-aging field, whether programmed or premature aging, and whether in cosmetics or in gerontology.