The Role of Iron Overload in Systemic Iron Homeostasis, Proinflammatory Biomarkers and Obesity Etiopathogenesis

Abstract

The objective of this review was to investigate iron homeostasis, hepcidin regulation, systematic and local iron overload and the interaction between obesity and iron homeostasis. Human hepcidin is a new mediator of innate immunity and iron regulatory hormone. The synthesis of hepcidin is up regulated by inflammation, obesity or iron overload, whereas; it is down regulated by iron deficiency anemia, iron transport across the placenta, hypoxia and erythropoietic activity. Iron supplementation increased hepatic iron and serum hepcidin, leading to increase fasting glucose due to insulin resistance and hemochromatosis. Obesity is associated with low-grade of inflammation, systemic iron deficiency and hypoferremia. Iron overload in adipose tissue (AT) increases systemic insulin resistance and iron handling by AT macrophages may have relevance insulin sensitivity. It could affect the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome, obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and will affect major tissues involved in glucose and lipid metabolism.