Celtic origin of the C282Y mutation of hemochromatosis.

The C282Y mutation in the HFE gene 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.