Iron absorption in dysmetabolic iron overload syndrome is decreased and correlates with increased plasma hepcidin.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS:

The dysmetabolic iron overload syndrome (DIOS) is a common disorder but its origin remains unclear.

METHODS:

A case-control study was conducted to compare intestinal absorption of iron in 16 men with DIOS (age 53 +/- 11 years, serum ferritin 750 +/- 372 microg/l, hepatic iron 78 +/- 25 micromol/g) and in 32 age-matched controls with normal body iron stores (16 overweight subjects and 16 lean subjects). Intestinal absorption was calculated as the area under the curve (AUC) of 58Fe administered orally and correlated with plasma hepcidin and with insulin resistance parameters including HOMA.

RESULTS:

Intestinal iron absorption was lower in DIOS (AUC = 22.4 +/- 15.9 microg/l/h) compared to both overweight controls (AUC = 40.5 +/- 29.4 microg/l/h, p=0.04) and to lean controls (AUC = 102.5 +/- 113.5 microg/l/h, p < 0.01). There was an inverse correlation between intestinal iron absorption and plasma hepcidin (r = -0.61, p < 0.001), HOMA (r = -0.35, p = 0.01) and C reactive protein (r = -0.52, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS:

In overweight subjects with normal iron stores, iron absorption is decreased through hepcidin upregulation. In patients with DIOS, this decrease is more pronounced due to an additional effect of iron excess on circulating hepcidin levels.

• Authors: Marc Ruivard, Fabrice Lainé, Tomas Ganz, Gordana Olbina, Mark Westerman, Elizabeta Nemeth, Mathieu Rambeau, André Mazur, Laurent Gerbaud, Valérie Tournilhac, Armand Abergel, Pierre Philippe, Yves Deugnier, Charles Coudray
• Journal: Journal of hepatology (J Hepatol) Vol. 50 Issue 6 Pg. 1219-25 (Jun 2009) ISSN: 1600-0641 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 19398238 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
• HAMP protein, human
• Hepcidins
• Iron Isotopes
• Iron, Dietary

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides (blood)
• Case-Control Studies
• Hepcidins
• Humans
• Insulin Resistance
• Intestinal Absorption
• Iron Isotopes (pharmacokinetics)
• Iron Overload (blood, complications, metabolism)
• Iron, Dietary (pharmacokinetics)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Overweight (blood, complications, metabolism)
• Syndrome