Soluble transferrin receptor levels are positively associated with insulin resistance but not with the metabolic syndrome or its individual components.
The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is known to be associated with elevated serum ferritin levels. The possible association with other Fe markers has been less well studied. We aimed to investigate the cross-sectional association of soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) and ferritin levels with the MetS components, insulin resistance and glycosylated Hb (HbA1C). The sample consisted of 725 adults, aged 19-93 years (284 men, 151 premenopausal and 290 postmenopausal women), from the Croatian island of Vis. Serum sTfR and ferritin levels were measured by immunoturbidimetry and electrochemiluminescence assays, respectively. The MetS was defined using modified international consensus criteria. Logistic and linear regression analyses were conducted to investigate the associations adjusting for age, fibrinogen, smoking status, alcohol consumption and BMI. Prevalence of the MetS was 48·7 %. Standardised values of ferritin were positively associated with all of the MetS components (except high blood pressure and waist circumference) in men (P0·05). sTfR levels could be spuriously elevated in subjects with insulin resistance and without association with the MetS or its components. We conclude that different markers of Fe metabolism are not consistently associated with cardiometabolic risk.
1Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences and Informatics,University of Edinburgh,Edinburgh EH8 9AG,UK.
Milton Fabian
MF
Suárez-Ortegón
1Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences and Informatics,University of Edinburgh,Edinburgh EH8 9AG,UK.
Stela
S
McLachlan
1Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences and Informatics,University of Edinburgh,Edinburgh EH8 9AG,UK.
Sarah H
SH
Wild
3Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Nutrition,Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Girona (IdIBGi),CIBEROBN (CB06/03/010) and Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII),17007 Girona,Spain.
José Manuel
JM
Fernández-Real
4Medical Research Council (MRC) Human Genetics Unit,Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine,University of Edinburgh,Western General Hospital,Edinburgh EH4 2XU,UK.
Caroline
C
Hayward
5Department of Public Health,School of Medicine,University of Split,21000 Split,Croatia.
Ozren
O
Polašek
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D017697:Premenopause; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012995:Solubility; D055105:Waist Circumference
D005293:Ferritins; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin
 HFG high fasting glucose;  HOMA-IR homoeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance;  HbA1C glycosylated Hb;  MetS metabolic syndrome;  WC waist circumference;  sTfR soluble transferrin receptor; Ferritin; Insulin resistance; Metabolic syndrome; Soluble transferrin receptor