Iron metabolism and its association with dyslipidemia risk in children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundInformation on the association between iron metabolism and dyslipidaemia in children is limited. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the iron metabolic status of children with different body mass index (BMI) and to examine the association between iron metabolism and dyslipidaemia risk.MethodIn total, 1866 children and adolescents aged 7–18 were enrolled in this study, including 912 boys and 954 girls. In this cross-sectional study, parameters for anthropometry, lipids and iron metabolism including transferrin, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), ferritin and serum iron (SF) were evaluated. Data regarding demographic characteristics, diet, and physical activity were collected by self-reported questionnaires.ResultsThe prevalence of dyslipidaemia and iron deficiency in children and adolescents increased based on BMI categories (both P < 0.05) and were 58.3 and 8.9% in subjects with obesity, respectively. The lowest SF and the highest ferritin levels were observed in subjects who were obese (both P < 0.001). Subjects with dyslipidaemia had lower SF, transferrin and sTfR levels by different BMI categories, and those who were obese had higher ferritin levels (all P < 0.05). Most importantly, higher concentrations of transferrin and sTfR were related to lower dyslipidaemia risk (OR for transferrin: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.33–0.71; OR for sTfR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.46–0.99).ConclusionsA downward trend in SF level by BMI categories and the highest ferritin level in subjects with obesity suggested that iron storage was associated with BMI in children and adolescents. Moreover, an inverse relationship was observed between transferrin and sTfR concentrations and dyslipidaemia risk in children with different BMI.

The Causal Effects of Blood Iron and Copper on Lipid Metabolism Diseases: Evidence from Phenome-Wide Mendelian Randomization Study

“…The relationship between iron status and blood lipids is similarly ambiguous. Some epidemiological studies found that blood iron is lower in hyperlipidemic patients [ 42 ] and that blood ferritin is negatively associated with LDL cholesterol [ 13 ]. Very likely related, elevated iron status is negatively associated with coronary artery disease in both observational and MR studies [ 43 , 44 ].…”

Serum soluble transferrin receptor levels are independently associated with homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance in adolescent girls

“…In the aim of better recognition of the regulatory mechanisms of insulin signaling pathways, many biomolecules and their mutual interaction have been investigated so far [6][7][8]. Recent advances in that field pointed out the relationship between several iron homeostasis biomarkers and IR [9][10][11][12][13][14]. However, those results are inconclusive doubting whether they act via different and independent pathways.…”

“…Although the majority of studies on the associations between iron homeostasis biomarkers and IR were conducted in the adult population [9][10][11] and reported discrepant results, such researches in youngsters are scarce [12][13][14], especially in late adolescents, as a vulnerable population group. Hence, having in mind a smaller number of studies conducted in the pediatric population compared to adults, as well as the inconclusive results considering this issue, we aimed to gain a deeper knowledge into the complex pathophysiological mechanisms related to IR.…”

The rs508487, rs236911, and rs236918 Genetic Variants of the Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin–Kexin Type 7 (PCSK7) Gene Are Associated with Acute Coronary Syndrome and with Plasma Concentrations of HDL-Cholesterol and Triglycerides

“…Similarly, transgenic mice deficient in the human apoA-5 had strongly elevated triglyceride levels [24]. Alternatively, the PCSK7 could regulate lipid concentrations due to its participation in iron metabolism via the shedding of the human transferrin receptor-1 (hTfR1) [25][26][27]. This receptor is associated with inflammation and oxidative stress, processes that lead to atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases [28].…”