Association Between Serum Ferritin Levels And Insulin Resistance In Nondiabetic Brazilians

Background: Previous studies have pointed to a relation between high serum levels of ferritin and insulin resistance. Objective: To analyze the association between the serum concentrations of ferritin and resistance to insulin, and metabolism of glucose, in nondiabetic persons. Method: A transversal study was undertaken with 151 nondiabetic persons in Sao Luis, Brazil, in 2013. The following biochemical variables were analyzed: glycated hemoglobin, fasting glycemia, fasting insulin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, serum ferritin and high-sensitivity C reactive proteins (hs-CRP). Results: Among the participants with high levels of ferritin, approximately 20% and 40%, respectively, also had raised LDL-C (p=0.040) and hs-CRP (p=0.021). Prediabetes (p=0.016) and insulin resistance (p=0.026) had a statistically significant association with high levels of ferritin. The participants with raised ferritin also had double the probability of having raised hs-CRP (odds ratio = 2.29 / p=0.036). Conclusion: There was a statistically significant association between prediabetes and insulin resistance and raised levels of ferritin.