Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shunde Hospital, Southern Medical University (The First People's Hospital of Shunde), Foshan, 528300, Guangdong Province, China.
Department of Ultrasound, Shunde Hospital, Southern Medical University (The First People's Hospital of Shunde), Foshan, 528300, Guangdong Province, China.
Biol Trace Elem Res. 2024 Jan;202(1):87-98. doi: 10.1007/s12011-023-03666-4. Epub 2023 Apr 20.
Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a new terminology characterized by liver steatosis. Iron status is related to many metabolic diseases. However, the researches on the associations of serum iron status with MAFLD are limited. The objective of this study was to investigate the associations of serum iron status biomarkers with MAFLD and liver fibrosis. A total of 5892 adults were enrolled in the current cross-sectional study using the 2017-March 2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Liver steatosis and liver fibrosis were defined by the median values of controlled attenuation parameter ≥ 274 dB/m and liver stiffness measurement ≥ 8 kPa, respectively. The multivariable logistic/linear regression and restricted cubic spline analysis were conducted. After adjusting for potential confounders, higher ferritin levels were associated with higher odds of MAFLD (OR 4.655; 95% CI 2.301, 9.418) and liver fibrosis (OR 7.013; 95% CI 3.910, 12.577). Lower iron levels were associated with a higher prevalence of MAFLD (OR 0.622; 95% CI 0.458, 0.844) and liver fibrosis (OR 0.722; 95% CI 0.536, 0.974). Lower transferrin saturation (TSAT) was associated with a higher prevalence of MAFLD (OR 0.981; 95% CI 0.970, 0.991) and liver fibrosis (OR 0.988; 95% CI 0.979, 0.998). Higher ferritin levels, lower iron levels, and TSAT were associated with a higher prevalence of MAFLD and liver fibrosis. This study extended the knowledge of modifying iron status to prevent MAFLD and liver fibrosis. More prospective and mechanism studies were warranted to confirm the conclusions.
代谢相关脂肪性肝病（MAFLD）是一种以肝脂肪变性为特征的新术语。铁状态与许多代谢疾病有关。然而，关于血清铁状态与 MAFLD 之间关联的研究有限。本研究旨在探讨血清铁状态生物标志物与 MAFLD 和肝纤维化的关系。使用 2017 年至 2020 年 3 月的全国健康与营养调查（NHANES）数据，共纳入了 5892 名成年人进行横断面研究。肝脂肪变性和肝纤维化分别定义为受控衰减参数中位数≥274dB/m 和肝硬度测量值≥8kPa。采用多变量逻辑/线性回归和限制性立方样条分析。在校正了潜在混杂因素后，较高的铁蛋白水平与 MAFLD（OR 4.655；95%CI 2.301，9.418）和肝纤维化（OR 7.013；95%CI 3.910，12.577）的发生几率较高相关。较低的铁水平与 MAFLD（OR 0.622；95%CI 0.458，0.844）和肝纤维化（OR 0.722；95%CI 0.536，0.974）的患病率较高相关。较低的转铁蛋白饱和度（TSAT）与 MAFLD（OR 0.981；95%CI 0.970，0.991）和肝纤维化（OR 0.988；95%CI 0.979，0.998）的患病率较高相关。较高的铁蛋白水平、较低的铁水平和 TSAT 与 MAFLD 和肝纤维化的患病率较高相关。本研究扩展了铁状态调节知识，以预防 MAFLD 和肝纤维化。需要更多的前瞻性和机制研究来证实这些结论。
