Celtic Origin of the C282Y Mutation of Hemochromatosis

ABSTRACT: The C282Y mutation in theHFEgene is the main mutation causing hemochromatosis, and C282Y frequencies have been reported for various European populations. The aim of this review is to compile the Y allele frequencies of the C282Y mutation for twenty European populations. The most elevated value (6.88%) is observed in residual Celtic populations in UK and France, in accordance to the hypothesis of Simon et al. concerning a Celtic origin of the hereditary hemochromatosis mutation.