Publication:

Association of serum ferritin and glycated haemoglobin in patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus and its correlation with components of metabolic syndrome

Background Ferritin is a universal intracellular protein that stores iron and releases it in a controlled fashion, and reflects iron stores of the body. Recent studies indicate that increased body iron stores are associated with development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) hence affecting the level of glycated haemoglobin. The aim and objectives of this study were to determine the relationship between serum ferritin and glycated haemoglobin in type 2 diabetes patients and to find out correlation between serum ferritin level and components of metabolic syndrome.

Methods This study included 100 cases of type 2 DM compared with age and sex-matched 100 non-diabetic controls. Serum ferritin, fasting blood sugar, lipid parameters and waist circumference were estimated, and glycated haemoglobin was calculated by HPLC method.

Results The mean serum ferritin in cases was 178.59±84.17 µg/l and in controls was 107.17±13.83 µg/l (p=0.0001). The mean age was 53.32±10.14 years in cases and 51.8±10.54 years in controls. Mean HbA1C level in cases was higher (8.40±1.22) as compared to controls (5.4±0.34) and it was statistically significant (p<0.0001). There was a positive linear correlation between HbA1C level and serum ferritin irrespective to gender in case group (r=0.342) and it was statistically significant (p<0.0001). Serum ferritin was significantly higher in hypertensive type 2 DM patients than hypertensive non-diabetic patients (p<0.0239).

Conclusions The findings of this study suggest that increased level of serum ferritin is positively related to glycaemic control.