Study of Serum Ferritin and Glycated Hemoglobin in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Background: Serum Ferritin, an acute phase reactant is a marker of iron stores in the body. Ferritin is a protein in the body that binds to iron; most of the iron stored in the body is bound to ferritin. The HbA1c fraction is abnormally elevated in chronic hyperglycemic diabetic patients and it correlates positively with the glycaemic control this study was carried out to examine and establish a relationship between Serum Ferritin with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome and to examine whether a correlation between S. ferritin and FBS, HbA1c exists. Material & Method: 100 type 2 diabetes subjects (M:F-64:36, mean age 54.5±8.5 years, mean BMI 24.85kg/m 2) which included 24 patients with metabolic syndrome were studied and compared with controls. S. ferritin, Hb, ESR, FBS, PPBS, HbA1c and fasting lipid profile were measured. Results: Serum ferritin was significantly higher in diabetic patients when compared to controls and serum ferritin had a positive correlation with increasing duration of diabetes. Conclusions: There was a positive correlation between serum ferritin and FBS, HbA1c. There was no correlation between serum ferritin and age, sex, metabolic syndrome, coexistent hypertension, total cholesterol, LDL and serum triglycerides.