NYC’s Leading Integrative Health Care Center
NYC’s Leading Integrative Health Care Center
Iron is an essential mineral—but is it a heavy metal? And more importantly, can too much iron harm your health? At Patients Medical in NYC, we approach this common question with the precision of functional medicine, evaluating not just lab numbers but how iron behaves in your body.
We believe in treating the whole person—and that means looking at metal metabolism, oxidative stress, and toxicity as potential root causes of chronic illness, including diabetes, heart disease, fatigue, and inflammation.
Technically, yes. Iron is classified as a transition metal, and by atomic weight, it falls into the broader definition of heavy metals—elements with high density and potential for toxicity in excess. However, unlike toxic heavy metals like mercury or lead, iron is also a vital nutrient.
But here’s the functional medicine perspective:
The dose, form, and storage of iron determine whether it acts as a friend—or a foe.
Excess iron is a pro-oxidant, meaning it can generate free radicals that damage your tissues, blood vessels, and even your pancreas. This is especially concerning in people with:
In our clinic, we dig deep to understand why iron may accumulate in tissues or remain deficient despite supplementation.
Here are common root drivers:
Unlike standard panels, we use a combination of labs to assess iron in context:
Emily, 42, came to us with fatigue and hormonal imbalance. Her labs showed high ferritin (295 ng/mL), borderline insulin resistance, and sluggish thyroid.
What we uncovered:
Our plan included:
Three months later, her ferritin dropped to 130, energy returned, and thyroid labs improved—without any prescriptions.
Yes. Iron is classified as a heavy metal due to its atomic weight, but it’s also essential to life.
Absolutely. Excess iron can generate oxidative stress and damage tissues—especially the liver, heart, and pancreas.
Ferritin is a protein that stores iron. High levels may indicate inflammation, iron overload, or liver dysfunction.
Yes. Both iron deficiency and iron overload can cause fatigue. Functional testing is key to finding the cause.
Iron bisglycinate is well-tolerated and absorbed. However, supplementation should only be done after lab testing.
Yes. We use nutritional strategies, botanicals, and sometimes chelation under physician guidance.
This could be due to genetics, liver stress, or chronic inflammation—something we can evaluate.
Yes. Infections, inflammation, or low stomach acid can block iron absorption or cause imbalances.
Yes. We offer comprehensive panels for mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, and more.
We are an out-of-network provider but offer superbills for reimbursement. Some lab tests may be partially covered by insurance.
Patients Medical specializes in gently helping the patient identify the root cause of their medical issues and then assist them to recover from their problems to help them move forward to good health.
To schedule an in person on Tele-medicine appointment, please call our office at (212) 794-8800 or email us at info@PatientsMedical.com We look forward to hearing from you
Patients Medical PC
1148 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1B New York, NY 10128
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All information presented in this website is intended for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of rendering medical advice. Statements made on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information contained herein is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Patients Medical.
