Association of serum ferritin with metabolic syndrome in eight cities in China

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the cross-sectional association of serum ferritin (SF) and the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components among adults in eight cities in China. Methods: Subjects were recruited using a combination of systematic cluster random sampling and purposive sampling in eight cities in China. The sociodemographic characteristics, data of lifestyle factors, self-reported disease history, and 24-hr dietary intake were obtained using a validated questionnaire. Anthropometry was performed, and fasting blood was collected to test the SF, fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), triglycerides (TG), and cholesterols. Logistic and linear regression analyses were conducted to investigate the associations, adjusting for age, city level, smoking, drinking, weekly moderate-to-vigorous activity, dietary factors, hs-CRP, and BMI. Results: Serum ferritin level is positively correlated with total cholesterol, TG, FBG, HOMA-IR, and hs-CRP after adjusting for age and BMI. The odds ratio (OR) for MetS in the highest quartile of SF was 2.23 (1.32, 3.77) after adjusting for men, compared with the lowest quartile. An elevated ferritin concentration was significantly related to hypertriglyceridemia (p