Greetings MARMAM, Hemochromatosis (also called iron overload) is a condition in humans and other animals involving high iron in the body. It often goes undetected with no clinical signs for decades, but can become clinically relevant when a person is 30 to 50 years old. Because managed dolphins are increasingly living to this age, investigating hemochromatosis has been part of our geriatric dolphin health research program. In our most recent study, more than 1 in 4 dolphins in the wild had hemochromatosis. After studying this condition in both populations for some time, however, we think we have a solution - a trace saturated fatty acid called C17:0 present in varying levels in fish - that may protect against and reverse hemochromatosis in dolphins. We are assessing this potential solution with the help of zoological parks and aquariums. Our scientists are now working with leaders in metabolism at Salk University for Biological Studies, Medical University of South Carolina, University of California San Diego, and Rady Children's Hospital San Diego to learn more about dolphin metabolism, dietary C17:0, and how we may improve the health of dolphins, inform conservation efforts to protect wild dolphin nutrition sources, and improve the health of children with this same condition. Best regards, Stephanie Venn-Watson, DVM, MPH Director, Translational Medicine and Research Program National Marine Mammal Foundation