Association of Serum Ferritin Levels with Insulin Resistance in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62497//irjcs.106Keywords:
Diabetes Mellitus, Metabolic Syndrome, Insulin, Fasting Blood Glucose, HOMA-IR Index, Ferritins, Insulin Resistance, Type 2Abstract
Introduction: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by insulin resistance (IR), a key pathophysiological feature of the disease. Elevated serum ferritin—an acute-phase reactant and marker of body iron stores—has been implicated in various metabolic disorders, including IR. However, the relationship between serum ferritin and IR in patients with T2DM remains insufficiently explored.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2022 and September 2023 across multiple centers in Pakistan. A total of 128 patients with confirmed T2DM (aged 30–65 years) were enrolled. Exclusion criteria included acute or chronic inflammatory conditions, hepatic or renal dysfunction, hematologic disorders, recent blood transfusions, or iron supplementation. After obtaining informed consent, participants underwent clinical assessments and laboratory testing. Fasting blood samples were collected to measure plasma glucose, insulin (via ELISA), and serum ferritin (via CLIA). The Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) was used to quantify insulin resistance, with HOMA-IR > 2.5 indicating IR. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, chi-square tests, and Pearson correlation using SPSS version 25.
Results: The mean age of participants was 52.4 ± 8.9 years; 57.8% were male. The average duration of diabetes was 7.3 ± 3.2 years, with most participants being overweight (mean BMI: 28.6 ± 4.1 kg/m²). A total of 81.3% exhibited insulin resistance. Mean serum ferritin was 188.5 ± 82.7 ng/mL, fasting insulin was 18.4 ± 7.6 μIU/mL, and HOMA-IR averaged 7.22 ± 3.51. Males had significantly higher ferritin levels than females (204.3 ± 85.1 vs. 166.2 ± 74.3 ng/mL, p = 0.018). Serum ferritin showed a moderate positive correlation with HOMA-IR (r = 0.462, p < 0.001), and also correlated significantly with BMI (r = 0.227), fasting insulin (r = 0.401), and fasting glucose (r = 0.314). No significant correlation was found with age.
Conclusion: This study highlights a significant association between elevated serum ferritin levels and insulin resistance in individuals with T2DM. These findings suggest that ferritin may serve as a potential biomarker for metabolic dysfunction in diabetic patients. Further longitudinal and interventional studies are needed to elucidate the causal relationship and explore the therapeutic potential of targeting iron metabolism in T2DM management.
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Copyright (c) 2024 Dr. Saqib Majeed, Dr. Muskan Rasool, Dr. Maryam Safdar, Dr. Shahab Gul, Dr. Hassan Ahmad (Author)
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