title: Serum ferritin is associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and decreased Β-cell function in non-diabetic men and women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to determine whether NAFLD is associated with poorer β-cell function and if any β-cell dysfunction is associated with abnormal markers of iron or inflammation.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study of 15 non-diabetic adults with NAFLD and 15 non-diabetic age and BMI-matched controls. Insulin sensitivity was measured by isotope-labeled hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps and β-cell function by both oral (OGTT) and intravenous glucose tolerance tests. Liver and abdominal fat composition was evaluated by CT scan. Fasting serum levels of ferritin, transferrin-iron saturation, IL-6, TNFα and hsCRP were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to controls, subjects with NAFLD had lower hepatic and systemic insulin sensitivity and β-cell function was decreased as measured by the oral disposition index. Fasting serum ferritin and transferrin-iron saturation were higher in NAFLD and were positively associated with liver fat. Serum ferritin was negatively associated with β-cell function measured by both oral and intravenous tests, but was not associated with insulin sensitivity. IL-6, TNFα and hsCRP did not differ between groups and did not correlate with serum ferritin, liver fat or measures of β-cell function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings support a potential pathophysiological link between iron metabolism, liver fat and diabetes risk.
authors.affiliation: VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Seattle, WA; University of Washington, Department of Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition, Seattle, WA. Electronic address: kutzschn@u.washington.edu.
authors.forename: Kristina M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Utzschneider
authors.affiliation: University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Largajolli
authors.affiliation: University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bertoldo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Washington and the Northwest Lipid Metabolism and Diabetes Research Laboratory, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: Santica
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marcovina
authors.affiliation: Digestive Disease Institute, Virginia Mason Medical Center and Benaroya Research Institute, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, Department of Pathology, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: Matthew M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.affiliation: Digestive Disease Institute, Virginia Mason Medical Center and Benaroya Research Institute, Seattle, WA; University of Washington, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: Kris V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Kowdley
authors.affiliation: VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Seattle, WA; University of Washington, Department of Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: Steven E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Kahn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D015309:Glucose Clamp Technique; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
chemical_list: D005293:Ferritins
keywords: Fatty liver; Ferritin; Insulin secretion in vivo; Insulin sensitivity