High Meat Intake and Ferritin Levels in Relation to Cardiovascular Risk Among Individuals with Diabetes in Mongolia

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Mongolian diets are characterized by high meat consumption, which may contribute to dietary iron intake and influence ferritin levels and cardiovascular risk. Elevated ferritin levels have been associated with inflammation and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in various populations; however, the specific effects of high meat intake and ferritin levels on CVD risk in Mongolian individuals with diabetes remain unclear. This study aimed to assess the relationship between meat intake, ferritin levels, and cardiovascular risk markers in a diabetic Mongolian population. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 171 Mongolian adults with diabetes. Meat intake was assessed using 24 h dietary recall interviews, and participants were categorized into tertiles of low, medium, and high intake. Blood samples were collected to measure ferritin, lipid profiles, and other CVD markers. The Framingham Risk Score was calculated for each participant. Results: Participants in the highest tertile of meat intake exhibited significantly elevated ferritin levels compared to those in the lower tertiles (275.6 ng/mL vs. 119.6 ng/mL, p = 0.001). Elevated ferritin levels were observed in 40% of participants and were associated with higher LDL cholesterol (3.75 vs. 3.22 mmol/L, p = 0.002), total cholesterol (5.63 vs. 5.2 mmol/L, p = 0.012), and Framingham Risk Scores (13.97 vs. 11.4, p = 0.0001). However, ferritin levels showed no significant association with other cardiovascular or inflammatory markers, including BMI, HbA1c, CRP, and IL-6 (p > 0.05). Mediation analysis revealed that ferritin partially mediated the relationship between meat intake and cardiovascular risk (beta coefficient = 0.539, p = 0.001), though the indirect effect was not statistically significant. Interaction analysis indicated no significant effect modification of meat intake and ferritin levels on cardiovascular risk (p = 0.844). Conclusions: In this diabetic Mongolian population, high meat intake was associated with elevated ferritin levels, which may have reflected dietary iron intake rather than systemic inflammation or increased CVD risk.