The relationship between serum ferritin levels and metabolic syndrome in menopausal women, a cross-sectional study

Menopause is the most critical period with unfavorable changes in anthropometric and metabolic parameters which is associated with Cardiovascular disease risk. Metabolic syndrome has a key role in causing cardiovascular disease and has been a major problem in many countries. According to various studies, the increased ferritin level is associated with metabolic syndrome and those with higher ferritin levels are at more risk of metabolic syndrome. Therefore, due to the high prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Iran, this study was performed with aim to investigate the relationship between serum ferritin levels and metabolic syndrome. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 165 menopausal women referred to the 17 Shahrivar health center and health center No. 8 of Ahvaz in 2013. Demographic information questionnaire was completed for the subjects; for the evaluation of the components of metabolic syndrome, blood pressure was measured twice with interval of 10 minutes after a break and their mean was considered. Waist circumference (WC) was measured. HDL, triglycerides, cholesterol, serum ferritin and FBS tests were done after 12 hours of night fasting on serum of patients. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 19) and Chi-square test, ANOVA, Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients. P In this study, 58 patients (35.2%) had metabolic syndrome. The mean serum ferritin levels in women with metabolic syndrome were 34.53 ± 25.45 and in women without metabolic syndrome was 33.56± 23.12. There was a significant relationship between body mass index, waist circumference, blood glucose, plasma triglyceride, lipid profile and metabolic syndrome (p<0.05). But no significant relationship was found between metabolic syndrome and age, metabolic syndrome and serum ferritin (p>0.05). There is no significant relationship between serum ferritin levels and metabolic syndrome.