Relationships of iron metabolism with insulin resistance and glucose levels in young and healthy adults.
OBJECTIVE
Several biomarkers within the iron metabolism pathway have been related to the occurrence of diabetes mellitus, but underlying mechanisms are unknown. The aim of our study was to investigate the differential relationships of iron metabolism with a broad range of diabetes markers in young and healthy adults.


METHODS
2160 participants aged 25 to 41years were enrolled in a population-based study. Established cardiovascular disease, diabetes or a body mass index >35kg/m(2) were exclusion criteria. Multivariable linear regression models were built to assess the associations of ferritin and transferrin saturation (TSAT) with blood levels of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), insulin, homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c).


RESULTS
Median (interquartile range) age was 37 (31, 40) years. In multivariable linear regression analyses, β-coefficients (95% confidence intervals) per 1-SD increase in ferritin were 0.04 (0.02; 0.07, p=0.0008) for GLP-1, 0.06 (0.04; 0.08, p<0.0001) for insulin, 0.07 (0.04; 0.09, p<0.0001) for HOMA-IR, 0.004 (-0.00; 0.01, p=0.07) for FPG and -0.003 (-0.01; -0.00, p=0.07) for HbA1c. β-coefficients (95% CI) per 1-SD increase in TSAT were -0.07 (-0.09; -0.05, p<0.0001) for GLP-1, -0.06 (-0.08; -0.04, p<0.0001) for insulin, -0.07(-0.09; -0.05, p<0.0001) for HOMA-IR, -0.01 (-0.01; -0.00, p<0.0001) for FPG and -0.01 (-0.01; -0.00, p=0.0004) for HbA1c.


CONCLUSIONS
Markers of insulin resistance are strongly related with markers of iron metabolism in healthy subjects. These relationships were inconsistent and weaker for short-term and long-term glucose levels. These results may provide insights in the relationships between iron metabolism and diabetes occurrence.
Department of Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031 Basel, Switzerland; Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
Philipp
P
Krisai
Department of Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031 Basel, Switzerland; Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
Stefanie
S
Leib
Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
Stefanie
S
Aeschbacher
Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
Thomas
T
Kofler
Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
Mustafa
M
Assadian
Department of Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031 Basel, Switzerland; Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
Anna
A
Maseli
Singulex, Inc., 1701 Harbor Bay Parkway Suite 200, Alameda, CA 94502, USA.
John
J
Todd
Singulex, Inc., 1701 Harbor Bay Parkway Suite 200, Alameda, CA 94502, USA.
Joel
J
Estis
Labormedizinisches Zentrum Dr. Risch, Schaan, Liechtenstein; Division of Laboratory Medicine, Kantonsspital Graubünden, Chur, Switzerland.
Martin
M
Risch
Labormedizinisches Zentrum Dr. Risch, Schaan, Liechtenstein; Division of Clinical Biochemistry, Medical University Innsbruck, Austria; Private University, Triesen, Liechtenstein.
Lorenz
L
Risch
Department of Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031 Basel, Switzerland; Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland. Electronic address: david.conen@usb.ch.
David
D
Conen
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000378:metabolism; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism
D001786:Blood Glucose; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005293:Ferritins; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007328:Insulin; D007501:Iron; D014168:Transferrin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human
Diabetes; Epidemiology; Ferritin; Glucagon-like peptide-1; Insulin; Transferrin saturation