The Association of Serum Ferritin and Metabolic Syndrome and Metabolic Syndrome Score in Korean Adults

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the relationship amongst serum ferritin, and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and metabolic syndrome score (MSS) in Korean adults. The data of 16,096 adults (6,840 men as well as 4,916 premenopausal and 4,340 postmenopausal women) aged ≥ 20 years in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) between 2010 and 2012 were analyzed. The prevalence rate of MetS was 3,978 (24.7%) (men, 24.6%; premenopausal women, 11.1%; postmenopausal women, 40.3%). The key study results were as follows: First, after the adjustment for relevant variables, the serum ferritin level (M±SE) was significantly higher (p ＜0.001) in the MetS group (men, 132.25±1.98 ng/mL; premenopausal women, 39.89±1.49 ng/mL; postmenopausal women, 73.45±1.14 ng/mL) than in the non-MetS group (men, 111.08±1.01 ng/mL; premenopausal women, 32.26±0.50 ng/mL; postmenopausal women, 63.26±0.98 ng/mL). Second, the serum ferritin levels increased as MSS increased in all groups (men, premenopausal women, and postmenopausal women) (p＜0.001). In conclusion, MetS and MSS increases were positively associated with higher serum ferritin levels.