SERUM FERRITIN IS AN EARLY RISK INDICATOR OF INSULIN RESISTANCE IN PREDIABETES

Abstract

Introduction:Serum ferritin, a marker of iron stores has been implicated to play a role in many acute and chronic
disease conditions. Several epidemiological studies have reported excess deposition of iron in tissues related to
insulin resistance (IR).
Aim & Objective:The aim of this study is to investigate the risk of iron stores as assessed by serum ferritin to see
where it could be an early indicator of insulin resistance in Pre-diabetes.
Material and Methods:This case control study included a total of 224 participants with 112 Pre-Diabetic
individuals who attended the OP Department of General Medicine and matchedwith 112 normal healthy individuals
who attended the Master health checkup OP in SRM MCH & RC. Their fasting blood samples were collected to
estimate FBS, PPBS, Iron, Ferritin and Insulin. Insulin resistance was calculated using homeostasis model
assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) formula. Statistical analysis was performed by bivariate correlation and
paired samples t test between cases and controlsby SPSS IBM social software.
Results:Serum Ferritin (110.39 ± 13.52), Iron (113.32 ± 14.81), %TS (32.18 ± 6.24), Serum Insulin (17.04 ± 1.89)
and HOMA-IR (4.98 ± 0.77) were significantly high in Pre-Diabetics when compared with controls Serum Ferritin
(43.46 ± 9.26), Iron (70.02 ± 6.79), %TS (18.79 ± 3.04), Serum Insulin (8.02 ± 1.86) and HOMA-IR (1.71 ± 0.59).
Similarly we found a significant positive correlation between Ferritin and Insulin (r = .956**, P = <0.001) in PreDiabetics.
Conclusion:Serum ferritin levels were positively associated with serum insulin and HOMA-IR in individuals with
Pre-Diabetes, suggesting increasedserum ferritin could be an earlyrisk indicator of IRin Pre-Diabetes.