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Hepcidin and iron metabolism associated with cardiometabolic risk factors in children: A case-control study

Y N Zhu1, B T He1, J Jing1

  • 1Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.

Nutrition, Metabolism, and Cardiovascular Diseases : NMCD
|May 4, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Children with cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs) show altered iron metabolism, with higher hepcidin and lower iron, transferrin, and soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) levels. These iron parameters are associated with cardiometabolic risk and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Nutritional Biochemistry
  • Cardiovascular Health

Background:

  • Iron metabolism is integral to cardiometabolic disease development.
  • The relationship between cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs) and iron status in children is not well understood.
  • Hepcidin, a key regulator of iron homeostasis, warrants investigation in pediatric CMRFs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare hepcidin and iron metabolism parameters between children with and without CMRFs.
  • To examine the associations between iron parameters and CMRFs in pediatric populations.
  • To elucidate the role of iron dysregulation in the development of pediatric cardiometabolic risk.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study involving 1126 children aged 7-14 years.
  • Comparison of iron parameters (hepcidin, serum iron, transferrin, sTfR) between children with CMRFs (n=563) and healthy controls (n=563).
  • Statistical analysis of associations between iron parameters, lipids, anthropometrics, and CMRFs.

Main Results:

  • Children with CMRFs exhibited significantly higher hepcidin levels and lower serum iron, transferrin, and sTfR levels compared to controls.
  • Higher hepcidin levels were associated with increased odds of low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels.
  • Lower serum iron, transferrin, and sTfR levels were significantly associated with increased cardiometabolic risk.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric cardiometabolic risk is characterized by distinct alterations in iron metabolism, including elevated hepcidin and reduced iron availability.
  • Iron parameters like transferrin and sTfR are inversely correlated with cardiometabolic risk in children.
  • These findings highlight the potential of targeting iron metabolism for managing pediatric cardiometabolic health.
Abstract

Keywords:
Cardiometabolic risk factorsChildrenHepcidinIron metabolismLipid profile

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