title: Comparison of serum prohepcidin and iron metabolism parameters in obese and non-obese elderly individuals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Current knowledge indicates that there is a close connection between being overweight, obesity and iron metabolism disorders,but the underlying mechanism is unclear. Hepcidin could be a major contributor to poor iron status observed in the obese population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was performed in 58 obese elderly individuals (F/M 34/24) aged 65-91 (78.92 ± 8.32) years. The controlgroup consisted of 15 non-obese elderly volunteers, age- and sex-matched. Based on the WHO definition, 36 (62%) obese individualswere diagnosed with normo- or microcytic anaemia. The following parameters were determined: prohepcidin, haemoglobin, serum iron,erythropoietin, ferritin and C-reactive protein (CRP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prohepcidin concentrations were significantly increased in obese elderly individuals without anaemia compared to obese andanaemic (p < 0.01) as well as non-obese volunteers (p < 0.01). In obese individuals with anaemia there was a decrease in serum iron,concomitant with increased levels of erythropoietin and CRP compared to two other groups. Ferritin concentration was increased inobese people (with and without anaemia) compared to the non-obese group. Serum prohepcidin levels were positively correlated withfat mass percentage in obese individuals without and with anaemia (r = 0.32; p = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of this preliminary study suggest that body fat content does have an impact on prohepcidin concentration, andthereby on iron homeostasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Collegium Medicum, Bydgoszcz, Poland. j.szwarc@wp.pl
authors.forename: Justyna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Przybyszewska
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Żekanowska
authors.forename: Kornelia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kędziora-Kornatowska
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boinska
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Porzych
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Przybyszewski
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cichon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D064451:Hepcidins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D064451:Hepcidins; D012709:Serum Albumin; D004921:Erythropoietin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005293:Ferritins