The relation between the type of adiposity, inflammation, and iron absorption in pre-menopausal women.

Abstract

Iron deficiency is one of the most common deficiencies that people face. Many reasons are found to be behind it, of which is the prominent obesity factor. Known as a state of low-grade inflammation, obesity has been proved to increase the release of inflammatory cytokines and hepcidin, a hepato-protein, which negatively affects the absorption of ingested iron. On the longer run, if untreated, iron deficiency leads to anemia. Globally, none of the previously conducted studies has focused on the location of adiposity and its effect on iron absorption to the best of the investigator’s knowledge. In Lebanon, this study aims to examine whether it is the absolute amount of fat or the location of fat, leading to an inflammatory state, is responsible for the decrease in iron absorption in females of childbearing age. A total of 118 premenopausal women divided into 4 categories (lean, overweight, obese class I, and obese class II) were recruited. Anthropometric measurements and body composition using DXA were collected. Iron absorption was determined using three blood samples collected at baseline (overnight fasted), 2 weeks post the ingestion of a labeled 57Fe load, and 2 hours following the ingestion of glucose-sodium ferrous citrate load. They were analyzed for iron levels (serum iron, transferrin receptors, transferrin saturation, total iron binding capacity, ferritin, hepcidin, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume and red cell distribution width), fractional iron absorption and inflammatory parameters (CRP, AGP, hepcidin and ferritin). In the wake of the literature gap on the relation between adiposity location and iron metabolism, this study would provide science with further clarification that allows healthcare professionals to categorize obese and overweight individuals according to their visceral adiposity, having the latter in mind while prescribing their iron medical treatment. The results of this study showed that markers for iron status were not affected by the change in BMI (p-value0.05). Moreover, fr