Bryan Johnson’s autoimmune disease raises alarm on simple mineral 1 in 4 Americans may lack

Bryan Johnson has finally ironed out the cause of his mysterious health problems.

After years of dealing with complicated symptoms, the 48-year-old biohacker says he has been diagnosed with an “incurable” autoimmune disease — autoimmune gastritis (AIG) — and warns that one symptom was hidden in plain sight.

He updated his followers about the situation in a shocking X post, writing: “My stomach is eating itself.”

Johnson, who reportedly spends more than $2 million a year on longevity therapies from plasma exchanges to pelvic floor stimulation, speculated that his health problems may stem from a period of chronic stress and an unhealthy lifestyle earlier in life. At some point, he says, his body “began developing an autoimmune process affecting my thyroid and then my stomach lining.”

One key clue to understanding AIG was his low ferritin levels, which store the body’s iron. Iron is an essential mineral for transporting oxygen and producing energy, and low levels can cause several symptoms, including fatigue, weakness and even dizziness.

According to research published in JAMA Network Open, about 1 in 4 Americans may have inadequate iron intake or absorption. Menstruation is the leading cause of iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia across the world. But for Johnson, the cause was not initially clear.

Johnson added that AIG is tricky to diagnose. “The earliest clue, low ferritin, is the one standard medicine waves through. Low iron stores get normalized and rarely investigated at all when anemia hasn’t shown up yet. That blind spot is what hid mine for a decade.”

Iron is typically obtained through eating lean meats and seafood, though supplementation is often recommended for those who fall short even after adjusting their diets.

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Unfortunately, despite repeated attempts to restore his iron stores, Johnson said that taking oral iron supplements and trying different formulations did not impact his levels.

“We chased the obvious solutions first,” he explained, noting that his plant-based diet and strenuous workout routine may have also played a role in raising his body’s need for iron. However, despite trialing different formulas and attempting timing tricks, “none of the iron would stick.”

After further testing, his team discovered the issues were threefold. AIG attacks the cells that produce stomach acid, reducing the body’s ability to absorb iron. Johnson was able to connect the key problems.

“The iron deficiency, the autoimmune gastritis driving it, and the autoimmune thyroid disease alongside it. Iron and thyroid feed each other both ways; low iron impairs the conversion of thyroid hormone into its active form, and an underactive thyroid impairs how the body uses iron,” he concluded.

Since being diagnosed with AIG, Johnson has turned to iron infusions, which deliver a full dose of iron in a single treatment. He also said his team will continue routine monitoring of his ferritin and iron levels.

He shared a final word of caution in his post: “You too may have a lurking health issue that is undiagnosed and could increase in severity from unhealthy life choices, without your knowing… A gentle nudge that minding your health, no matter your situation in life, is good decision making.”

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Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post

This article was written by Miska Salemann, New York Post Commerce Writer/Reporter. As a health-forward member of Gen Z, Miska seeks out experts to weigh in on the benefits, safety and designs of both trending and tried-and-true fitness equipment, workout clothing, dietary supplements and more. Taking matters into her own hands, Miska intrepidly tests wellness products, ranging from Bryan Johnson’s Blueprint Longevity Mix to the viral Oura Ring to Jennifer Aniston’s favorite workout platform – often with her adorable toddler by her side. Before joining The Post, Miska covered lifestyle and consumer topics for the U.S. Sun and The Cannon Beach Gazette.

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