title: Body iron stores in middle-aged North Indian patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evidence from various epidemiological and clinical studies suggests that iron overload is proinflammatory and proatherosclerotic. Excess body iron has been positively associated with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and obesity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the relationship of body iron stores with type 2 diabetes and obesity in middle aged North Indian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participant population consisted of four groups of randomly selected participants (between 40 and 65 years of age and postmenopausal women); Group A: Normal individuals (controls), Group B: Obese nondiabetic individuals, Group C: Lean diabetic patients, Group D: Obese diabetic patients. Blood was examined for hematological, biochemical estimations, C-reactive protein, and serum ferritin (SF).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 197 participants were enrolled. The mean SF levels (ng/ml) among males were: Group A (n = 18) 148.56 ± 119.90; Group B (n = 25) 129.11 ± 94.77; Group C (n = 27) 127.96 ± 109.65 and Group D (n = 22) 148.36 ± 104.94. The mean SF levels (ng/ml) among females were: Group A (n = 23) 67.44 ± 37.59; Group B (n = 25) 59.62 ± 43.56; Group C (n = 24) 77.97 ± 91.46 and Group D (n = 33) 66.46 ± 86.05. No statistical difference was found among the groups in both the sexes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our observation is in sharp contrast to the earlier studies published from the West stressing that iron stores are increased in obesity and diabetes. We conclude that SF may not be a strong risk factor in the pathogenesis of obesity and diabetes in middle aged North Indians.
authors: Department of Medicine, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, India.
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Gupta
authors: Department of Pathology, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, India.
authors: Anshu
authors: A
authors: Palta
authors: Department of Medicine, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, India.
authors: Ram
authors: R
authors: Singh
authors: Department of Medicine, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, India.
authors: Sarabmeet Singh
authors: SS
authors: Lehl
keywords: Diabetes; obesity; serum ferritin