Association between hepatic iron overload assessed by magnetic resonance imaging and glucose intolerance states in the general population

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Muhammad Naeem - , University of Malakand (Author)
  • Sabine Schipf - , University of Greifswald (Author)
  • Robin Bülow - , University of Greifswald (Author)
  • Nicole Werner - , University of Greifswald (Author)
  • Marcus Dörr - , University of Greifswald (Author)
  • Markus M Lerch - , University of Greifswald (Author)
  • Jens-Peter Kühn - , Institute and Polyclinic of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology (Author)
  • Wolfgang Rathmann - , German Diabetes Center Düsseldorf (Author)
  • Matthias Nauck - , University of Greifswald (Author)
  • Marcello Ricardo Paulista Markus - , University of Greifswald (Author)
  • Giovanni Targher - , University of Verona (Author)
  • Till Ittermann - , University of Greifswald (Author)
  • Henry Völzke - , University of Greifswald (Author)

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM: While there is evidence that iron overload disorders are associated with type 2 diabetes, the relationship between hepatic iron overload and prediabetes remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between hepatic iron overload, as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and different glucose intolerance states in the population-based Study.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We included data from 1622 individuals with MRI data, who did not have known type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Using an oral glucose tolerance testing, participants were classified as having isolated impaired fasting glucose (i-IFG), isolated impaired glucose tolerance (i-IGT), combined IFG and IGT (IFG + IGT) or previously unknown T2DM. Hepatic iron and fat contents were assessed through quantitative MRI. We undertook linear and multinomial logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders and MRI-assessed hepatic fat content to examine the association of hepatic iron overload with different glucose intolerance states or continuous markers of glucose metabolism. MRI-assessed hepatic iron overload was positively associated only with both 2-h plasma glucose (β = 0.32; 95%CI 0.04-0.60) and the combined IFG + IGT category (relative risk ratio = 1.87; 95%CI 1.15-3.06). No significant associations were found between hepatic iron overload and other glucose intolerance states or biomarkers of glucose metabolism, independently of potential confounders.

CONCLUSIONS: MRI-assessed hepatic iron overload was associated with higher 2-h glucose concentrations and the combined IFG + IGT category, but not with other glucose intolerance states. Our findings suggest a weak adverse impact of hepatic iron overload on glucose metabolism, but further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1470-1476
Number of pages7
JournalNutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases : NMCD
Volume32
Issue number6
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2022
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85126093652
ORCID /0000-0003-3258-930X/work/172085834

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Biomarkers, Blood Glucose/metabolism, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/diagnosis, Fasting, Glucose, Glucose Intolerance/diagnosis, Humans, Iron Overload/diagnostic imaging, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Prediabetic State/diagnosis