Relationship between increased body iron stores, oxidative stress and insulin resistance in healthy men.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of our cross-sectional study was to assess the relationships between body iron stores, oxidative stress, impaired insulin sensitivity and carotid atherosclerosis in a cohort of healthy men in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.


METHODS
We examined 151 volunteers, aged 35- 60 years. Anthropometric parameters, markers of metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, inflammatory markers, parameters of oxidative stress and intima-media thickness of common carotid artery were measured.


RESULTS
Ferritin correlated positively with waist circumference, body mass index, impaired insulin sensitivity, plasma triglycerides and inversely with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. We observed positive correlations between ferritin, oxidized lowdensity lipoprotein and advanced oxidation protein products after adjustment for age, waist circumference, body mass index and measured inflammatory markers (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha). There were no significant associations between ferritin and intima-media thickness or markers of endothelial dysfunction. In a stepwise multiple regression analysis, triglycerides, waist circumference and elevated transaminases were independent determinants of the serum ferritin level.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results provide evidence for a relationship between plasma ferritin and oxidative modification of lipids as well as proteins in vivo. Higher body iron stores may contribute to impaired insulin sensitivity through increased oxidative stress in a cohort of healthy men.
Syrovatka
Petr
P
Department of Cardiology, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Videnska 1958/9, CZ-140 21 Prague 4, Czech Republic. petr.syrovatka@seznam.cz
Kraml
Pavel
P
Potockova
Jana
J
Fialova
Lenka
L
Vejrazka
Martin
M
Crkovska
Jirina
J
Andel
Michal
M
D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography
D015415:Biomarkers; D008055:Lipids; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron