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Serum Ferritin Levels Are Associated with Adipose Tissue Dysfunction-Related Indices in Obese Adults

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Abstract

Iron overload is associated with type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. However, little is known about the role of iron status on adipose tissue. We aimed to investigate the association of iron metabolism markers with adipose tissue dysfunction-related indices in obese individuals. A total of 226 obese adults with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2 were recruited into the study. Hemoglobin, serum ferritin, iron, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin saturation (TSAT), and other clinical parameters were measured. Adipose tissue dysfunction was assessed by adipose tissue insulin resistance (adipose-IR), visceral adiposity index (VAI), and lipid accumulation product (LAP) index. Serum ferritin levels, adipose-IR, and VAI progressively increased from class I to class III obesity and significantly higher in class III obesity. Correlation analysis suggested that only serum ferritin levels were positively correlated with adipose-IR (r = 0.284, P < 0.001), VAI (r = 0.209, P = 0.002), and LAP (r = 0.324, P < 0.001). Moreover, further logistic regression analysis revealed serum ferritin was significantly associated with elevated adipose-IR, VAI, and LAP. After adjustment for potential confounders, serum ferritin levels remained independently associated with elevated adipose-IR (OR = 1.004, 95% CI 1.000–1.009, P < 0.05) and VAI (OR = 1.005, 95% CI 1.001–1.009, P < 0.05). Serum ferritin was associated with elevated adipose-IR, VAI, and LAP, suggesting that ferritin could be an important early indicator for the risk of developing adipose tissue dysfunction in obese individuals.

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Data Availability

Some or all datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the staff and colleagues at the Endocrinology Department of Beijing Chao-yang Hospital.

Funding

This work was supported by grants from Beijing Natural Science Foundation (Z200019) to Jia Liu.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8, Gongti South Road, Chaoyang district, Beijing, 100020, China

    Xiaoyu Ding, Nannan Bian, Jiaxuan Wang, Xiaona Chang, Yu An, Guang Wang & Jia Liu

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  1. Xiaoyu Ding
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  2. Nannan Bian
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  4. Xiaona Chang
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Xiaoyu Ding performed formal analysis and wrote the manuscript. Study design, material preparation, and data collection were performed by Xiaoyu Ding, Nannan Bian, Jiaxuan Wang, Xiaona Chang, and Yu An. The paper was revised by Jia Liu and Guang Wang. All authors read and approved the submitted version.

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Correspondence to Guang Wang or Jia Liu.

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This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Beijing Chao-yang Hospital of Capital Medical University.

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Ding, X., Bian, N., Wang, J. et al. Serum Ferritin Levels Are Associated with Adipose Tissue Dysfunction-Related Indices in Obese Adults. Biol Trace Elem Res 201, 636–643 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-022-03198-3

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