Serum ferritin level is associated with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Korean adults: the 2007-2008 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
BACKGROUND
Increased ferritin concentrations, which reflect body iron stores, contribute to insulin dysfunction and metabolic syndrome (MetS).


METHODS
This cross-sectional study included 7346 subjects (3229 men and 4117 women) who participated in the 2007-2008 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). We adopted the modified Asian criteria for MetS from the American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.


RESULTS
In comparison with participants in the first serum ferritin quartile, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for MetS for participants in the fourth serum ferritin quartile was 1.67 (1.24-2.23) in men and 1.41 (1.06-1.88) in women after adjusting for multiple covariates (including menopausal status in women) except insulin resistance. This association was attenuated, however, after additionally adjusting for insulin resistance [1.46 (1.08-1.98) in men and 1.22 (0.91-1.65) in women]. In particular, higher serum ferritin concentrations were associated with increased triglyceride concentrations in men and glucose intolerance in women.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased serum ferritin level was positively associated with the prevalence of MetS and with some diagnostic components of MetS, i.e., we found that increased serum ferritin concentrations were associated with high triglyceride and glucose concentrations in men and women, respectively.
Department of Family Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Hee-Taik
HT
Kang
John A
JA
Linton
Jae-Yong
JY
Shim
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology
D005293:Ferritins