title: The relationship between obesity and hypoferraemia in adults: a systematic review.
abstract: A growing number of studies suggest a potential link between obesity and altered iron metabolism. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine existing literature on iron status in obese populations. A comprehensive literature search was conducted. Included studies recruited participants ≥ 18 years with a body mass index ≥ 30 kg m(-2) and provided descriptive statistics for haemoglobin or ferritin at a minimum. There were 25 studies meeting all eligibility criteria, of these 10 examined iron status in free-living obese individuals and 15 reported baseline iron biomarkers from bariatric surgery candidates. Non-obese comparison groups were used by 10 (40%) articles. In these, seven obese groups reported higher mean haemoglobin concentration; six reported significantly higher ferritin concentration; and four significantly lower transferrin saturation. Due to insufficient data, it was not possible to make conclusions regarding mean differences for soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), hepcidin or C-reactive protein. Existing evidence suggests a tendency for higher haemoglobin and ferritin concentration and lower transferrin saturation in obesity. Alternation of iron biomarkers in obese populations may be a result of obesity-related inflammation and/or related comorbidities. Further research incorporating measurement of inflammatory cytokines, sTfR and hepcidin is required to confirm the impact of obesity on iron status.
authors: Discipline of Exercise and Sport Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. hche3056@uni.sydney.edu.au
authors: H L
authors: HL
authors: Cheng
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Bryant
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Cook
authors: H
authors: H
authors: O'Connor
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Rooney
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Steinbeck
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D014168:Transferrin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron