Cytochrome P450 2E1 and Iron Overload

Inclusion Criteria: Male patients aged from 18 to 70 years Hepatic iron overload measured by magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] (> 36 µmol/g and < 200 µmol/L) Homozygosity for the C282Y mutation of the HFE or dysmetabolic iron overload syndrome (DIOS) based on the presence of at least one of these following metabolic abnormalities: Overweight: BMI > 25 kg/m2 Waist/hip circumference (cm) > 0.90 Diabetes mellitus (fasting blood glucose level >1.25g/L or blood glucose level after 2 hours > 2g/L) or glucose intolerance (fasting blood glucose level between 1.10 and 1.25g/L) Total cholesterolemia > 6.2 mmol/L or HDL-Cholesterol < 0.9 mmol/L TG>= 1.7 mmol Written informed consent Non-Inclusion Criteria: Consumption of alcohol > 50 g/day and of any CYP2E1 inhibitor substances Smoker > 5 cigarets/day History of blood donation or venesection Other causes of iron overload: aceruloplasminaemia, haematological disorder (abnormal blood counting), late cutaneous porphyria (cutaneous bullous disorders and photosensibilisation) , martial treatment, repeated transfusions. Inflammatory syndrome (CRP > 3ng/ml)