Ferritin concentrations in circulation reflect iron stores in healthy individuals. However, elevated serum ferritin (SF) concentrations have recently been implicated in the pathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome (MetS). We aim to investigate factors associated with elevated SF and to evaluate the association between SF and risk of MetS in Taiwanese adults. Data was collected from 2654 healthy individuals aged >=19 years old, who participated in the Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (NAHSIT Adults 2005-2008). Mean concentrations of SF were 173±282 ng/mL (men 229±349 ng/mL and women 119±180 ng/mL). Prevalence proportion of MetS was 34.6% (men 43.1% and women 26.5%). Prevalence proportion of iron overload was 18.6% (men 21.5% and women 15.8%) and iron deficiency anemia was 5.2% (2.0% for men and 8.3% for women). Individuals with the highest SF tertile (T3) were more likely to consume higher amount of animal protein (p=0.001), betel nuts (p=0.004), and lower amounts of carbohydrates (p<0.0001), compared with the lowest SF group (T1). After adjustments, individuals with the highest SF tertile were associated with risk of MetS compared with those with the lowest (OR=1.724, 95% CI: 1.21-2.45). Serum ferritin concentrations showed a gradient relationship with individual components of MetS (all p<0.0001). Individuals with the highest SF tertile were significantly associated with fasting serum glucose (OR=2.16, 95% CI: 1.75-2.65) and serum triglyceride (OR=2.58, 95% CI: 1.07-3.22) than those with the lowest. In conclusions, our results highlight the crucial role of serum ferritin in the pathogenesis of the MetS in healthy Taiwanese adults.
血清儲鐵蛋白可在健康成年人中反應體內鐵含量，但是最近的研究發現血清儲 鐵蛋白為發炎指標因子。此外，血清儲鐵蛋白濃度也是預測代謝症候群的獨立 危險因子。本次研究的主要目的是利用2005 年至2008 年國民營養調查資料庫 分析臺灣成年人血中儲鐵蛋白指標與代謝症候群的相關性。本次研究總共分析 2654 位參加2005-2008 國民營養調查，年齡>=19 歲的成年人。儲鐵蛋白平均值 為173±282 ng/mL (男性229±349 ng/mL，女性119±180 ng/mL)。代謝症候群的 盛行率為34.6% (男性43.1%，女性26.5%)。鐵質過量的盛行率為18.6% (男性 21.5%，女性15.8%)。缺鐵性貧血的盛行率為5.2% (男性2.0%，女性8.3%)。 血清儲鐵蛋白於最高三等分位的族群與最小三等分位的族群相比，攝取較多動 物性蛋白質(p=0.001)與檳榔(p=0.004)以及較少量的碳水化合物(p<0.0001)。在 多變項校正後的全人口分析中，血清儲鐵蛋白於最高三等分位的族群與最低三 等分位的族群相比，得到代謝性症候群的危險對比值為1.7 倍(OR=1.724，95% CI：1.21-2.45)。進一步分析儲鐵蛋白與代謝症候群的五個障害分群後發現，高 儲鐵蛋白與得到任一障害都具有風險，其中以空腹血糖過高(OR=2.16，95% CI：1.75-2.65)及高三酸甘油酯(OR=2.58，95% CI：1.07-3.22)的風險為最高， 且達顯著。總結而言，本研究顯示臺灣健康成年人中，血清儲鐵蛋白與代謝症 候群發展可能有重要關聯。