Elevated Ferritin Levels and the Relationship with Fasting Insulin Levels in Elderly Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

Introduction: Elevated serum ferritin levels are associated with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome (MetS) as well as systemic inflammation and cardiovascular disease. The associations between ferritin and hemoglobin levels with individual components of MetS are unclear. The aims of the study were 1) to compare the ferritin levels, and 2) to investigate the relationships between ferritin, high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP), fasting glucose, fasting insulin and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) levels in elderly patients. Subjects and Methods: Study population included 121 (mean age 64.3 ± 14.1 yrs) (80 female, 41 male) elderly patients. The study population was evaluated for MetS by Adult Treatment Panel III (ATPIII). Demographic and biochemical data such as fasting insulin, hs-CRP, fasting glucose and ferritin levels were evaluated. Biochemical data were evaluated retrospectively. Insulin resistance (IR) was estimated using the HOMA. Results: Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in 39 elderly patients (32.2%). In elderly patients with MetS, mean levels of ferritin, hs-CRP, fasting glucose, fasting insulin and HOMA were found to be 72.9 ± 33.1 ng/ml, 0.90 ± 0.01, 99.1 ± 20.1 mg/dl, 13.4 ± 1.1 μU/l, 3.0 ± 0.1, respectively. However, mean levels of ferritin, hs-CRP, fasting glucose, fasting insulin and HOMA were found to be 54.1 ± 33.1 ng/ml, 0.67 ± 0.1, 91.9 ± 17.0 mg/dl, 8.4 ± 2.7 μU/l, 2.71 ± 0.9, in the other elderly patients, (p = 0.0012), (p = 0.70), (p = 0.70), (p = 0.003), (p = 0.80) respectively. Mean levels of ferritin were positively correlated with diastolic (r = 0.850, p = 0.03), systolic blood pressures (r = 0.700, p = 0.02), and fasting insulin (r = 0.444, p = 0.003) in elderly with MetS. Conclusions: Mean levels of ferritin were increased in elderly patients with metabolic syndrome. And also, ferritin levels were positively correlated with systolic and diastolic blood pressures as well as fasting insulin but not with hs-CRP levels in elderly patients with metabolic syndrome.