title: Iron and diabetes risk.
abstract: Iron overload is a risk factor for diabetes. The link between iron and diabetes was first recognized in pathologic conditions-hereditary hemochromatosis and thalassemia-but high levels of dietary iron also impart diabetes risk. Iron plays a direct and causal role in diabetes pathogenesis mediated both by β cell failure and insulin resistance. Iron also regulates metabolism in most tissues involved in fuel homeostasis, with the adipocyte in particular serving an iron-sensing role. The underlying molecular mechanisms mediating these effects are numerous and incompletely understood but include oxidant stress and modulation of adipokines and intracellular signal transduction pathways.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA.
authors.forename: Judith A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Simcox
authors.forename: Donald A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: McClain
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000209:etiology*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006432:Hemochromatosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000150:complications*; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D019266:Iron, Dietary; D005947:Glucose