Several studies have found associations between iron overload as ferritin and risks of diabetes and cardiovascular complications. Limited studies have been conducted in Asian patients. We undertook this study to examine association between plasma ferritin and blood lipids using five years of repeated measures in type 2 diabetes. A cohort of 651 Taiwanese with type 2 diabetes was followed up at one-year intervals over five years (2008-2012). Average levels of ferritin measured in 2008 and 2009 were used. Repeated measures analysis was used to analyze relations between ferritin and lipid profile over the 5 years. Ferritin correlated significantly (p trend<0.001) with high fat western dietary pattern generated using factor analysis in 2008. After adjusting for confounders, hyperferritinemia (ferritin > 250ng/dl) correlated significantly with reduced levels of HDL-C (45.0 vs. 47.0 mg/dl, p=0.035) and increased triglyceride (175.3 vs.146.9 mg/dl, p<0.001), but not with LDL-C. The highest quintile of high fat pattern also correlated with triglyceride (p=0.015). Blood ferritin may serve as dietary markers of frequent consumption of high meat and high fat foods. Future prospective studies with longer duration will be needed to confirm relations between iron overload as ferritin and development of cardiovascular complications in type 2 diabetes.
Date:
2015-04
Relation:
FASEB Journal. 2015 Apr;29(1, Suppl.):Abstract number 588.4.
