Iron status and cardiometabolic risk in children
Authors' conclusion
Lower iron status was independently associated with glycaemic markers and MetS in children, whereas higher ferritin levels were related to other cardiometabolic risk markers under the influence of inflammation, hepatic injury and body mass. Research is required to study whether this mixed pattern is part of an early risk or would be explained by a normal transition during growth and development.
Study context
- Population
- Prepubertal children aged 3–14 years203 re-examined
- Participants
- 832 children
- Exposure
- Serum ferritin and transferrin vs metabolic syndrome (MetS)-related variables
- Outcome
- MetS and MetS components scores, HbA1c, and their follow-up change
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Associations of iron status with MetS-related variables
- Low ferritin: increased HbA1c Z scores (ANCOVA)
- P = 0.003
- Ferritin inversely associated with glycaemia, fully adjusted β
- −2.35(−4.36 to −0.34) (95% CI)
- Transferrin associated with diastolic blood pressure, β
- 0.02(0.01-0.04)
- Transferrin associated with log-HOMA-IR, β
- 0.001(0.0005-0.002)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
MetS risk score change during follow-up · mean follow-up 3.7 ± 0.8 years [range 2-6]
- MetS risk score worsened in children with the lowest baseline ferritin
Baseline ferritin and other MetS-related variables
- Ferritin positively associated with all MetS-related variables except glycaemia; attenuated after adjustment for inflammatory, hepatic function and body mass markers
- P > 0.05
Original publication
Iron status and cardiometabolic risk in children. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. Published 22 June 2023. doi:10.
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