Abstract
BackgroundElevated serum ferritin levels have been reported to contribute to metabolic syndrome (MetS). We examined the association of serum ferritin levels with the development of MetS in a representative sample of Chinese male adult population.MethodThe data came from the 2009–2013 Fangchenggang Area Males Health and Examination Survey (FAMHES). We combined a cross-sectional study of 2417 males and a longitudinal study of 857 males who participated in the FAMHES.ResultThe serum ferritin level of MetS was higher than that of nonMetS (median and percentiles 25–75: 447.4 (294.1-612.4) vs. 302.4 (215.0-435.8) ng/ml, p < 0.01). A positive correlation between ferritin concentrations and blood pressure (Systolic BP: R = 0.110, Diastolic BP: R = 0.158), waist circumference (R = 0.333), fasting glucose (R = 0.089), triglyceride (R = 0.315) and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (R = 0.130) was significant (all p < 0.001). Compared with the level of ferritin in the group with no MetS component, the group with all five MetS components had a higher ferritin level (554.7 (340.1-606.4) vs. 274.2 (198.2-384.4) ng/ml). The odd radio (OR) was higher for MetS in the highest ferritin quartile (OR = 2.29, 95% CI = 1.47-3.54) compared with the lowest ferritin quartile after adjustment for multi-factors. After 4-year follow up, 79 subjects newly diagnosed with MetS in 857 cohort male participants in 2013. Compared with the lowest ferritin quartile, the RR of the highest ferritin quartile was 2.55 (95% CI = 1.30-5.00) after multiple adjustments (p < 0.01).ConclusionOur findings confirm that the serum ferritin level is associated with the independent components of MetS, and elevated ferritin level is an independent risk factor for MetS development in the Chinese male population during the 4-year follow-up period.
Highlights
Elevated serum ferritin levels have been reported to contribute to metabolic syndrome (MetS)
Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a series of metabolic abnormalities, whose clinical features are based on central obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, high triglycerides, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and the decline of glucose tolerance or type 2 diabetes
In accordance with a 5-year prospective cohort in Korean men [33], we found it had no appreciable effect on the relationship between serum ferritin level and waist circumference after adjusted for body mass index (BMI)
Summary
Elevated serum ferritin levels have been reported to contribute to metabolic syndrome (MetS). Serum ferritin is a kind of storage of iron in the body tissue soluble protein, which is widely used as a proxy. Tang et al Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome (2015) 7:11 variable to reflect body iron accumulation in healthy individuals [7]. Excessive accumulation of serum ferritin can lead to pathological change in the liver [13], circulatory [14] and musculoskeletal system [15]. Increasing serum ferritin level plays an important role in metabolic risk factors such as type 2 diabetes [16], insulin resistance [17], hypertension [18], and dyslipidemia [19,20]. Increasing evidence showed that elevated serum ferritin is associated with MetS [21]. The exact molecular mechanism of the relationship between serum ferritin level and MetS remains unclear
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