Nutr Res Pract.  2019 Jun;13(3):263-267. 10.4162/nrp.2019.13.3.263.

Association of serum ferritin level and depression with respect to the body mass index in Korean male adults

• Lee HS
• Park E

• KMID: 2453291
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2019.13.3.263

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES
Obesity is globally a major public health issue. Evidence suggests that elevated ferritin levels are associated with obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome. This study was undertaken to examine the relationship between the serum ferritin level and depression in Korean male adults with respect to classification of the prevailing obesity.
SUBJECTS/METHODS
This was a case-control study; subjects were classified into obese group (≥ 25.0 kg/m2, 28 subjects) and normal group (18.5-22.9 kg/m2, 27 subjects). A survey was conducted to assess the depression levels as per the guidelines suggested by the Center program for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D). Blood was collected from each group for assessing biomarkers, and isolated plasma was evaluated for fasting glucose, insulin, quantitative insulin sensitivity check index, and ferritin levels. Data were analyzed, and groups were compared with respect to Body Mass Index (BMI), depression scale and biomarkers.
RESULTS
The average depression score of the obesity group was 16.86, which was higher than the normal group (12.56). Subjects scoring more than 16 points comprised 53.6% of the population in the obese group, which was more than double that in the normal group, as assessed by the CES-D program. Furthermore, the serum ferritin level of the obesity group was 207.12 ng/mL, which was higher than that of the normal group (132.66 ng/mL). Lastly, the BMI appeared to be significantly correlated with both depression (r = 0.320, P = 0.017) and elevated ferritin levels (r = 0.352, P = 0.008).
CONCLUSION
This study provides evidence of existing correlation between ferritin and depression with obesity.

Keyword

BMI; obesity; ferritins; depression

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Biomarkers
Body Mass Index*
Case-Control Studies
Classification
Depression*
Dyslipidemias
Fasting
Ferritins*
Glucose
Humans
Insulin
Insulin Resistance
Male*
Obesity
Plasma
Public Health
Biomarkers
Ferritins
Glucose
Insulin

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