To explore the relationship between iron status and insulin resistance (IR) among US adults, highlighting its potential clinical significance.
Key Findings:
Serum iron (SI) showed a negative correlation with HOMA-IR (β −0.03, 95% CI −0.05, −0.01, P = .01).
Iron intake and serum transferrin receptor (sTfR) were positively correlated with IR (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.04, P = .04; OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.02-1.13, P = .01).
SI and transferrin saturation (TSAT) were negatively correlated with IR (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94-0.98, P < .0001; OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.97-0.99, P < .001).
TSAT outperformed other biomarkers in predicting IR.
Interpretation:
Higher levels of certain iron status markers are associated with lower insulin resistance, suggesting a complex relationship between iron metabolism and glucose regulation, with potential implications for clinical practice.
Limitations:
Cross-sectional design limits causal inference.
Potential confounding factors, such as dietary habits and physical activity levels, were not fully accounted for.
Conclusion:
The study contributes to understanding the relationship between iron levels and insulin resistance, highlighting the need for further exploration of underlying mechanisms and their clinical implications.
