Study of Serum Ferritin and its relation with Glycemic control in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disorder. It has been hypothesized that, oxidative stress plays a major role in the etiology of the diabetic process, as well as in pathogenesis of various diabetic complications. Appreciating the role of catalytic Iron released by high serum Ferritin levels, in causation of oxidative stress and insulin resistance, we carried out this study to understand the relationship between the serum Ferritin and type 2 diabetes mellitus and we also studied glycated haemoglobin to know the correlation between glycemic control and serum Ferritin. Objectives: To compare the levels of serum Ferritin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and non-diabetic healthy individuals. To know if any correlation exists between serum Ferritin and Glycated Hemoglobin in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: The study was conducted at Rajarajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka from January 2012 to December 2012. The subjects of our study were fifty clinically diagnosed cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus and fifty non-diabetic healthy volunteers in the age group of 30 70 years who have satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Serum Ferritin levels and Glycated Hemoglobin were estimated by microplate immunoenzymo metric assay and ion exchange resin method respectively. Results: Serum Ferritin levels were significantly high in all cases compared to controls. There was moderate co-relation between serum Ferritin and Glycated Haemoblobin. Conclusion: The findings of the study project that, estimation of serum Ferritin may be useful in screening diabetics with poor glycemic control who are at high risk of developing complications. Thus serum Ferritin estimations in type 2 diabetes mellitus can be one of the adjuvant aids in investigations which guides in taking timely medical intervention and preventing further progression of disease.