Serum ferritin and high sensitivity C-reactive protein are associated with metabolic syndrome in Japanese men and women

[ABSTRACT] [Objective] Ferritin is involved in the occurrence of oxidative stress and regulation of adiponectin, both of which can modulate metabolic syndrome (MetS). To investigate the association of ferritin with MetS in Japanese, a cross-sectional study was conducted involving 324 men and 340 women who underwent anti-aging health checks at Tokai University Tokyo Hospital. [Methods] The MetS criteria of the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine was used and the levels of serum ferritin and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were compared with or without MetS-related abnormalities (abdominal obesity, waist circumference >_ 85 cm in men and >_ 90 cm in women; hypertension, systolic BP >_ 130 and/or diastolic BP >_ 85 mmHg; hyperglycemia, fasting glucose >_ 110 mg/dL; and dyslipidemia, triglycerides >_ 150 mg/dL and/or HDL-C < 40 mg/dL). [Results] Ferritin levels were significantly higher in the subjects with hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia in both men and women, and in those with abdominal obesity in women. HsCRP levels were significantly higher in the subjects with abdominal obesity in both sexes, and in those with hypertension in men. Serum ferritin increased in proportion to the number of MetS components and was significantly higher in MetS subjects than in non-MetS counterparts in both men and women, although these results were not obtained regarding hsCRP. [Conclusion] Ferritin is not considered inferior compared with the well-known marker hsCRP with respect to the association with MetS. High serum ferritin concentrations could potentially be used as a biomarker for MetS as well as hsCRP.