Ann Pediatr Endocrinol Metab.  2013 Sep;18(3):141-147. 10.6065/apem.2013.18.3.141.

Serum ferritin level is higher in male adolescents with obesity: results from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010

• Jeon YJ
• Jung IA
• Kim SH
• Cho WK
• Jeong SH
• Cho KS
• Park SH
• Jung MH
• Suh BK

• KMID: 2266366
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.6065/apem.2013.18.3.141

Abstract

PURPOSE
Previous reports show an association between high serum ferritin levels and metabolic syndrome (MS) in adults. In adolescents, little information is available with obesity and serum ferritin levels.
METHODS
This is a cross-sectional study. Data were obtained from the 5th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (K-NHANES) conducted during 2010 by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare. A total of 849 subjects aged 10-18 years participated in the 2010 survey. A body mass index (BMI) > or =95th percentile for age and sex or a BMI > or =25 was used to diagnose as obesity.
RESULTS
The weighted prevalence of obesity was 13.4% (62/462) in male and 8.5% (33/387) in female. We observed significantly higher serum ferritin in male than in female (mean+/-standard error [SE], 50.5+/-2.3 microU/L vs. 30.6+/-1.3 microU/L; P<0.0001). In male, serum ferritin is positively correlated with age (P<0.0001). White blood cell (WBC) count, serum fasting blood sugar, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, insulin, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and ferritin levels were higher and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were lower in the obesity than in the normal group. In female adolescents, WBC count, TG, insulin, and HOMA-IR were higher and HDL were lower in the obesity than in the normal group. In male, serum ferritin levels showed positive association with obesity (beta=21.196, P=0.016).
CONCLUSION
Serum ferritin levels appear to be associated with obesity in Korean male adolescents.

Keyword

Ferritins; Adolescent; Obesity; Male; Korean

MeSH Terms

Adolescent*
Blood Glucose
Blood Pressure
Body Mass Index
Cholesterol
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Ferritins*
Humans
Insulin
Leukocytes
Lipoproteins
Male*
Nutrition Surveys*
Obesity*
Prevalence
Triglycerides
Blood Glucose
Cholesterol
Ferritins
Insulin
Lipoproteins

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Significant positive association between serum ferritin level and age in the males (A: β=5.647, P<0.0001), but not in the females (B: β=0.227, P=0.686).

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