Abstract
BackgroundRecently, hepcidin expression in adipose tissue has been described and shown to be increased in patients with severe obesity. We tried to assess the effect of obesity on hepcidin serum levels and treatment outcome of iron deficiency anemia in children.MethodsThis was a case control study included 70 children with iron deficiency anemia "IDA" (35 obese and 35 non-obese) and 30 healthy non-obese children with comparable age and sex(control group). Parameters of iron status (Serum iron, ferritin, transferrin, total iron binding capacity and transferrin saturation) and serum hepcidin levels were assessed initially and after 3 months of oral iron therapy for IDA.ResultsCompared to the control group, serum hepcidin was significantly lower in non-obese children with IDA(p < 0.01) and significantly higher in obese children with IDA (p < 0.01). Hepcidin increased significantly in non-obese children with IDA after 3 months of iron therapy (P < 0.01). On the other hand, obese children showed non-significant change in hepcidin level after iron therapy (p > 0.05). Although hepcidin showed significant positive correlations with Hb, serum iron and transferrin saturation in non-obese children with IDA, it showed significant negative correlations with Hb, serum iron and transferrin saturation in obese children with IDA (P < 0.05).ConclusionsObesity increased hepcidin levels and was associated with diminished response to oral iron therapy in childhood iron deficiency anemia.
Highlights
Hepcidin expression in adipose tissue has been described and shown to be increased in patients with severe obesity
The aim of this study was to assess the effect of obesity on hepcidin serum levels and its relation to treatment outcome of iron deficiency anemia in children
The study included 70 children with iron deficiency anemia [35 obese with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 95thcentile for age and sex and 35 non-obese with BMI < 85thcentile for age and sex]. 30 healthy nonobese children of comparable age and sex served as a control group
Summary
Hepcidin expression in adipose tissue has been described and shown to be increased in patients with severe obesity. We tried to assess the effect of obesity on hepcidin serum levels and treatment outcome of iron deficiency anemia in children. Obesity is associated with low-serum iron concentrations. The inverse relationship between iron status and adiposity was first reported in 1962, when Wenzel et al [1] unexpectedly found a significantly lower mean serum iron concentration in obese compared with nonobese adolescents. Among the proposed causes are deficient iron intake from an iron poor diet [2], and deficient iron stores owing to greater iron requirements in obese adults because of their larger blood volume [6].
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