title: Association between serum ferritin and glaucoma in the South Korean population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evidence suggests that altered iron metabolism may be associated with oxidative damage to several organ systems, including the eye. Supplementary iron consumption is also associated with greater odds of self-reported glaucoma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the association between serum ferritin level and the likelihood of a glaucoma diagnosis in a cross-sectional, population-based study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from 17,476 participants in the first and second years of the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a cross-sectional study of the South Korean population conducted from January 1, 2010, through December 31, 2011. Data pertaining to the serum ferritin level were aggregated and divided into quartiles. Demographic, comorbidity, and health-related behavior information was obtained via interview.
  
  
  METHODS
  The presence or absence of glaucoma. The definition of glaucoma was based on criteria established by the International Society of Geographical and Epidemiological Ophthalmology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants whose serum ferritin level was greater than 61 ng/mL (to convert to picomoles per liter, multiply by 2.247) had significantly higher odds of a glaucoma diagnosis when compared with those with a level less than 31 ng/mL, after adjustment for potential confounders (ferritin levels of 31-61 ng/mL: odds ratio [OR], 1.17; 95% CI, 0.84-1.62; ferritin levels of 62-112 ng/mL: OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.16-2.20; and ferritin levels of 113-3018 ng/mL: OR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.32-2.72).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study reveals that a higher serum ferritin level was associated with greater odds of glaucoma in a representative sample of the South Korean population, even at levels normally observed in the general population. This novel finding may help elucidate the pathogenesis and lead to novel therapeutic approaches for glaucomatous disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco2Department of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shuai-Chun
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco.
authors.forename: Sophia Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul.
authors.forename: Chungkwon
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University, Stanford, California.
authors.forename: Kuldev
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco.
authors.forename: Shan C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular; D014794:Visual Fields
chemical_list: D005293:Ferritins