**9.2.6 Iron and haemochromatosis**

The presumable mechanism of iron influence as a risk factor for CRC is connected with the formation of the free radicals from the unabsorbed iron, which damage colon epithelium. Heterozygotic patients who have not developed haemochromatosis are at elevated risk of developing CRC (Altes et al., 1999). The high risk of developing CRP and CRC in our patients who have regularly consumed red meat could be partially explained with the high amount of organic iron, which is available in the heme molecule.
