Evaluation of iron status in metabolic syndrome

Abstract

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of interconnected risk factors that adversely affects all the organs of the body. Oxidative stress resulting from excess tissue iron causing insulin resistance, tissue damage and other complications are observed in MetS.

Objectives: To assess iron status by serum iron, ferritin, total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and transferrin saturation (TS) levels in female MetS patients.

Method: This cross sectional study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Shahbag, Dhaka from March, 2019 to February, 2020 on total thirty female MetS patients aged 25 to 45 years. Thirty (30) age matched apperantly healthy female subjects were enrolled as control. Serum iron, ferritin levels, TIBC and TS were measured by standard biochemical methods. Data were expressed as mean ± SD. Statistical analysis was done by Independent sample ‘t’ test.

Results: In this study, mean serum ferritin was significantly higher (p<0.001) and mean serum TIBC was significantly lower (p<0.05) in patients than that of controls In addition, 43.3% of MetS patients had excess ferritin and 26.67% patients had low TIBC whereas no control subjects had abnormal ferritin or TIBC and the difference between MetS and control was statistically significant.

Conclusion: From the results of this study it can be concluded that higher iron status may be associated with metabolic syndrome.

J Bngladesh Soc Physiol 2021;16(1): 82-87