Iron enhances the production of the highly reactive and toxic hydroxyl radical, thus stimulating oxidative damage. Iron has been associated with a number of oxidative injury-dependent, age-related conditions and diseases. Indeed, oxidative injury is a major factor of (accelerated) ageing. This commentary reviews part of the existing literature on iron's deleterious effects, particularly in the context of ischemia-reperfusion injury and cardiovascular, brain and muscle diseases as well as skin ageing. Furthermore, the advantages of iron chelation are presented. Indeed, iron chelation or deprivation has been shown to act as a potent anti-oxidant in a variety of animal models of human diseases, preventing oxidative stress to tissues and organs. Iron chelators favor successful ageing in general, and when applied topically, successful skin ageing. It has also been proposed that gender-related differences in iron status are responsible for the increased longevity of women as compared to men. Despite this evidence, the role of iron in ageing and the possibilities of pharmacologically targeting iron have remained essentially unexplored. Iron thus appears as the "malignant spirit" in successful ageing.

中文翻译：

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铁是成功衰老的恶性精神。

铁增强了高反应性和有毒的羟基自由基的产生，从而刺激了氧化损伤。铁已经与许多氧化损伤相关的，与年龄有关的状况和疾病相关联。确实，氧化损伤是（加速）衰老的主要因素。这篇评论评论了有关铁的有害作用的现有文献的一部分，特别是在缺血再灌注损伤以及心血管，脑和肌肉疾病以及皮肤老化的背景下。此外，提出了铁螯合的优点。实际上，铁螯合或剥夺已显示出在多种人类疾病动物模型中作为有效的抗氧化剂，可防止对组织和器官的氧化应激。一般而言，铁螯合剂有利于成功的衰老，局部应用时则有利于成功的皮肤衰老。也有人提出，与铁有关的性别差异与女性相比，男性寿命更长。尽管有这些证据，但铁在衰老中的作用以及药理上靶向铁的可能性仍未得到充分探索。因此，铁似乎是成功衰老的“恶性精神”。