Association of serum ferritin and gamma-glutamyl transferase levels with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance

Abstract

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a state of inflammatory condition carrying several risk factors that lead to insulin resistance (IR), atherosclerotic events, and related complications. Serum ferritin is an acute phase reactant. As an acute phase, serum ferritin increases inflammatory condition which can contribute for IR and MetS. Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) is a pro-inflammatory marker, which participates in various pathophysiological processes such as oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation which are important in the pathogenesis of IR and MetS. This study was undertaken to understand the association of serum ferritin and GGT levels with IR and MetS. Methodology: A comparative, descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted including 50 MetS cases and 50 matched healthy controls. Clinical examination was followed by laboratory investigations of GGT, ferritin, insulin, lipid profile, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and IR were calculated by homeostasis model assessment-IR (HOMA-IR). Results: In the MetS patients' group, IR (HOMA-IR) was found to have significant positive correlations with serum GGT, ferritin, insulin, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HsCRP). It was also found that body mass index, fasting blood sugar, postprandial blood sugar, and HbA1c were significant risk factors of IR. Conclusion: The present study suggests that fasting insulin, HsCRP, GGT, and ferritin levels were found to be significantly associated with HOMA-IR. GGT and ferritin play a significant role toward the increasing oxidant stress and inflammatory load which predisposes to MetS. Hence, these parameters could be used as markers for the early diagnosis of MetS.

Keywords

• fasting insulin
• gamma-glutamyl transferase
• homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance
• high-sensitivity c-reactive protein
• metabolic syndrome
• serum ferritin