What is the “Celtic Curse”? The ‘Celtic curse’ is the name popularly given to the condition haemochromatosis, a genetic disorder where excessive amounts of iron are absorbed from the diet, leading to organ and tissue damage and even death, if left untreated. It is most common in certain European populations (such as the Irish and Norwegians) and occurs in 0.6% of some unspecified population. Men have a 24-fold increased rate of iron-overload disease compared with women.Haemochromatosis is the most common genetic disorder in Australia. About 1 in 200 people of northern European origin have the genetic risk for haemochromatosis. People with haemochromatosis absorb too much iron from their diet. The excess iron is stored in the body. Over time this leads to iron overload. In … Continue reading What is hereditary haemochromatosis (the “Celtic Curse”) ?