The relationship between serum ferritin and metabolic syndrome in healthy Korean men

Background and objective: Elevated serum ferritin levels have been reported to be associated with several metabolic disorders. We investigated the relationship between serum ferritin level and metabolic syndrome and its components in healthy Korean men.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, serum ferritin level and metabolic syndrome and its components were measured from 18 581 men from January to December in 2008. The presence of metabolic syndrome was determined according to the most recent consensus report of the National Cholesterol Education Program's Third Adult Treatment Panel. Logistic regression models were applied to examine the relationship between the serum ferritin level and the metabolic syndrome and its components.

Results: After adjusting for clinical covariates, the odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals of metabolic syndrome with respect to Q2, Q3 and Q4 were 1.34 (1.14-1.57), 1.49 (1.24-1.70) and 1.99 (1.70-2.33), respectively (p for trend < 0.001). The multivariable-adjusted model also showed a significantly graded relationship between individual components of metabolic syndrome and the quartile groups of serum ferritin.

Conclusions: In this study, elevated ferritin concentration is independently associated with metabolic syndrome and its components among healthy Korean men.