[Iron metabolism in chronic alcohol abuse]

Disturbances of the iron metabolism in patients with chronic alcohol abuse are of very complex genesis. The frequently probable hypersideraemia is caused by an increased intake of iron, by release of depot iron, when an alcohol-conditioned liver damage is present, and by an increased iron balance with disturbed iron use of the bone marrow. Thus the in alcoholics often provable combined megaloblastic-sideroblastic anaemia is in close connection with this.