The Relationship between Serum Ferritin Level and Insulin Resistance in Metabolic Syndrome

Introduction: Insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are risk factors for diabetes mellitus, and their prevalence is increasing. Ferritin has emerged as a biomarker of low-grade inflammation in addition to its role in iron metabolism. The study aims to determine the correlation between ferritin and insulin resistance (IR) in MetS. Materials and Methods: In this study, ferritin, glucose (fasting), and HOMA-IR were measured from serum samples obtained from 98 MetS patients and 100 healthy volunteers. Serum ferritin, glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR results were compared between the MetS and the control group. Correlation analysis was performed between ferritin and HOMA-IR in control and MetS patients. Results: Serum ferritin (Control: 93,9±30,13; MetS:200±57,31 ng/ml), glucose (Control: 100,9±11,86, 123,9±21,52 ng/dl), insulin (Control: 4,11±2,57; MetS:15,99±5,71 µU/ml) and HOMA-IR (Control: 1,04±0,74; MetS:5,07±2,33) revealed to be higher in MetS compared to control. The correlation between serum ferritin level and HOMA-IR in MetS patients was revealed. This correlation was not found in the control group. Conclusion: In MetS, high serum ferritin level increases insulin resistance. While the positive correlation of ferritin with insulin resistance occurs at high ferritin levels, this is not observed at low ferritin levels.