title: Serum Ferritin Relates to Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Offspring of Fathers With Higher Serum Ferritin Levels.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Body iron status has been linked to atherosclerosis in adults. The purposes of our study were to determine (1) the association between circulating ferritin levels and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in a cohort of apparently healthy children and (2) the association between cIMT and parental ferritin levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Circulating ferritin levels (microparticle enzyme immunoassay), metabolic parameters, and cIMT (ultrasonography) were analyzed cross-sectionally in a cohort of 692 healthy white children with a mean age of 8 ± 2 years (52% girls and 48% boys). In consecutive 123 children from the cross-sectional sample, the same serum assessments were also performed at baseline in their parents, and the cIMT was repeated after 3 years of follow-up in the children at a mean age of 11 ± 2 years (53% girls and 47% boys). Weak but significant positive associations were evident between children's circulating ferritin levels and cIMT (r=0.123; P=0.001) and with the change in cIMT 3 years later a tendency was also observed (r=0.185; P=0.048). In multiple regression analyses, circulating ferritin levels contributed independently to cIMT variance (β=0.090; P=0.026; R(2)=10%) and cIMT change variance (β=0.216; P=0.019; R(2)= 3.4%) after controlling for body mass index, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, age, sex, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels. This association was, however, remarkably significant (β=0.509; P=0.001; R(2)= 20.4%) in children whose fathers had ferritin levels above the median value (122.5 ng/mL).The latter association remained significant after correction for multiple testing. Maternal's ferritin levels showed no interaction in this association.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest a paternal-specific effect on cIMT partially reflected by father's ferritin levels.
authors.affiliation: From the Girona Institute for Biomedical Research, Girona, Spain (A.P.-P., M.M., G.C.-B., J.B., W.R., A.L.-B., J.M.F.-R.); Department of Physical Therapy, EUSES University School (A.P.-P.) and TransLab Research Group, Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine (A.L.-B.), University of Girona, Girona, Spain; Pediatrics, Dr. JosepTrueta Hospital, Girona, Spain (A.P.-P., G.C.-B., J.B., A.L.-B.); and Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology, CIBEROBN (CB06/03/010) and Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Girona, Spain (M.M., W.R., J.M.F.-R.).
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prats-Puig
authors.affiliation: From the Girona Institute for Biomedical Research, Girona, Spain (A.P.-P., M.M., G.C.-B., J.B., W.R., A.L.-B., J.M.F.-R.); Department of Physical Therapy, EUSES University School (A.P.-P.) and TransLab Research Group, Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine (A.L.-B.), University of Girona, Girona, Spain; Pediatrics, Dr. JosepTrueta Hospital, Girona, Spain (A.P.-P., G.C.-B., J.B., A.L.-B.); and Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology, CIBEROBN (CB06/03/010) and Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Girona, Spain (M.M., W.R., J.M.F.-R.).
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.affiliation: From the Girona Institute for Biomedical Research, Girona, Spain (A.P.-P., M.M., G.C.-B., J.B., W.R., A.L.-B., J.M.F.-R.); Department of Physical Therapy, EUSES University School (A.P.-P.) and TransLab Research Group, Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine (A.L.-B.), University of Girona, Girona, Spain; Pediatrics, Dr. JosepTrueta Hospital, Girona, Spain (A.P.-P., G.C.-B., J.B., A.L.-B.); and Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology, CIBEROBN (CB06/03/010) and Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Girona, Spain (M.M., W.R., J.M.F.-R.).
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carreras-Badosa
authors.affiliation: From the Girona Institute for Biomedical Research, Girona, Spain (A.P.-P., M.M., G.C.-B., J.B., W.R., A.L.-B., J.M.F.-R.); Department of Physical Therapy, EUSES University School (A.P.-P.) and TransLab Research Group, Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine (A.L.-B.), University of Girona, Girona, Spain; Pediatrics, Dr. JosepTrueta Hospital, Girona, Spain (A.P.-P., G.C.-B., J.B., A.L.-B.); and Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology, CIBEROBN (CB06/03/010) and Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Girona, Spain (M.M., W.R., J.M.F.-R.).
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bassols
authors.affiliation: From the Girona Institute for Biomedical Research, Girona, Spain (A.P.-P., M.M., G.C.-B., J.B., W.R., A.L.-B., J.M.F.-R.); Department of Physical Therapy, EUSES University School (A.P.-P.) and TransLab Research Group, Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine (A.L.-B.), University of Girona, Girona, Spain; Pediatrics, Dr. JosepTrueta Hospital, Girona, Spain (A.P.-P., G.C.-B., J.B., A.L.-B.); and Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology, CIBEROBN (CB06/03/010) and Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Girona, Spain (M.M., W.R., J.M.F.-R.).
authors.forename: Wifredo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ricart
authors.affiliation: From the Girona Institute for Biomedical Research, Girona, Spain (A.P.-P., M.M., G.C.-B., J.B., W.R., A.L.-B., J.M.F.-R.); Department of Physical Therapy, EUSES University School (A.P.-P.) and TransLab Research Group, Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine (A.L.-B.), University of Girona, Girona, Spain; Pediatrics, Dr. JosepTrueta Hospital, Girona, Spain (A.P.-P., G.C.-B., J.B., A.L.-B.); and Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology, CIBEROBN (CB06/03/010) and Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Girona, Spain (M.M., W.R., J.M.F.-R.). alopezbermejo@idibgi.org jmfreal@idibgi.org.
authors.forename: Abel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: López-Bermejo
authors.affiliation: From the Girona Institute for Biomedical Research, Girona, Spain (A.P.-P., M.M., G.C.-B., J.B., W.R., A.L.-B., J.M.F.-R.); Department of Physical Therapy, EUSES University School (A.P.-P.) and TransLab Research Group, Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine (A.L.-B.), University of Girona, Girona, Spain; Pediatrics, Dr. JosepTrueta Hospital, Girona, Spain (A.P.-P., G.C.-B., J.B., A.L.-B.); and Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology, CIBEROBN (CB06/03/010) and Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Girona, Spain (M.M., W.R., J.M.F.-R.). alopezbermejo@idibgi.org jmfreal@idibgi.org.
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fernández-Real
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005220:Fathers; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005293:Ferritins
keywords: C-reactive protein; atherosclerosis; carotid intima-media thickness; child; ferritin