Independent relationship between serum ferritin levels and dyslipidemia in Chinese adults: A population study

Several studies have indicated that elevated levels of circulating ferritin are associated with disturbances in energy metabolism. But none of this gave a clearly pathologic mechanism. We aimed to explore the independent relationship between serum ferritin levels and dyslipidemia.

We performed multivariable logistic regression analyses to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) for dyslipidemia, lipid parameters, the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and the risk of diabetes, according to sex-specific quartiles of serum ferritin by using the data of China Health and Nutrition Survey (2009 CHNS). We used three models to estimate the strength of the correlation. The basic model (Model 1) is without adjustment and the Model 2 and Model 3 are adjusted for demographic, anthropometric, and lifestyle confounding factors.

In both genders, the ORs for high TG level, TC level and LDL-C level increased progressively and for HDL-C decreased across the ferritin quartiles (P<0.001 for trend). After adjustment for confounding factors in different logistic regression models, the results remained unchanged. The ORs for the risk of diabetes and high HOMA-IR level in the highest quartile group of serum ferritin levels were significantly increased in Model 1, but after adjustment for lipid parameters, the ORs for the risk of diabetes was decreased from 1.91 (95% CI: 1.37-2.67; P<0.001 for trend) to 1.48 (95% CI: 1.03-2.12; P = 0.036 for trend) in men, and from 5.40 (95% CI: 3.38-8.63; P<0.001 for trend) to 1.43 (95% CI: 0.83-2.43; P = 0.498 for trend) in women, and the ORs for IR was decreased from 1.86 (95% CI: 1.57-2.20; P<0.001 for trend) to 1.25 (95% CI: 1.05-1.50; P = 0.114 for trend) in men, and from 1.93 (95% CI: 1.63-2.28; P<0.001 for trend) to 1.24 (95% CI: 1.01-1.51; P = 0.012 for trend) in women.

Our results provide evidence that serum ferritin levels are significantly associated with lipid parameters, independent of glucose metabolism disorders and components of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Thus, serum ferritin plays a key role in energy metabolism disorders and may affect glucose metabolism through lipid metabolism.