Association of Serum Ferritin and the Development of Metabolic Syndrome in Middle-Aged Korean Men

Abstract

OBJECTIVEElevated serum ferritin has been known to be associated with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, there was no research to examine whether serum ferritin levels have been actually associated with the prospective development of MetS. Accordingly, we carried out a prospective study to evaluate the longitudinal effects of baseline serum ferritin levels on the development of MetS.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSA MetS-free cohort of 18,022 healthy Korean men, who had participated in a medical health checkup program in 2005, was followed until 2010. MetS was defined according to the joint interim statement of the International Diabetes Federation Task Force on Epidemiology and Prevention. Cox proportional hazards models were performed.RESULTSDuring 45,919.3 person-years of follow-up, 2,127 incident cases of MetS developed between 2006 and 2010. After adjusting for multiple covariates, the hazard ratios (95% CI) for incident MetS comparing the second quintile to the fifth quintile of serum ferritin levels versus the first quintile were 1.19 (0.98–1.45), 1.17 (0.96–1.43), 1.36 (1.12–1.65), and 1.66 (1.38–2.01), respectively (P for trend <0.001). These associations were apparent in the clinically relevant subgroup analyses.CONCLUSIONSElevated serum ferritin levels were independently associated with future development of MetS during the 5-year follow-up period.

A Study of Serum Ferritin Activity in Metabolic Syndrome

“…Our finding corroborates with a study conducted by Park SK, Ryoo JH et al, who analyzed a cross sectional data and concluded that high serum ferritin level was independently associated with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components [5] . Li Jiang, Wang R et al, also analyzed a cross sectional data and concluded that moderately elevated iron levels were associated with an increased prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and markers of insulin resistance [6] .…”

Composite prognostic models across the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease spectrum: Clinical application in developing countries

“…78 Zein et al [56] Body evidenced association between these entities [60] . Direct biochemical confirmation or clinical approximation of IR is of particular relevance in this regard, as insulin-mediated intra-hepatic FFA flux potentiates cardiomyocyte ischemia contributing towards diastolic dysfunction, adaptive remodelling and subsequent cardiac injury.…”

“…Emerging evidence suggests that ferritin is not only independently associated with diagnostic features of the metabolic syndrome, but reliably predicts its presentation as composite entity as well as the onset of full-blown type Ⅱ diabetes mellitus (DM Ⅱ) and adverse cardiac events [77][78][79] . It has been proposed that the well-evidenced pathogenic relationship between hyperferritinemia and the metabolic syndrome is mediated by undiagnosed hepatosteatosis [80] which in turn exacerbates the association between this condition and increased risk for DM Ⅱ and atherosclerotic disease [81] .…”

Association between serum ferritin levels and the incidence of obesity in Korean men: A prospective cohort study

“…The study method has been previously described in detail [6]. Our study participants comprised Korean men undergoing a medical health check-up program at the Health Promotion Center of Kangbuk Samsung Hospital (Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Korea).…”