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Scope Very few studies have evaluated serum hepcidin in patients with type 2 diabetes and they have reported conflicting results. In addition, the effect of antidiabetic drugs on circulating hepcidin has not been explored so far. The aims of the study were to evaluate hepcidin concentrations and hepcidin/ferritin ratio in type 2 diabetes subjects and healthy non-diabetic controls and to evaluate the effect of metformin on hepcidin concentrations. Methods and results Study 1: Cross-sectional multivariate study of 239 non-diabetic individuals and 65 people with type 2 diabetes. The multivariate analysis included covariates of chronic inflammation, BMI, pharmacological treatment, menopausal status and insulin resistance. Study 2: Randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled 4-month trial metformin compared to placebo among 36 type 2 diabetic patients. In both groups diet was controlled by maintaining a hypocaloric intake across the trial. Hepcidin levels were significantly lower in patients with type 2 diabetes than in non-diabetic individuals either in crude or adjusted regression models (P

Few studies have described the association between hepcidin levels and cardiometabolic risk in the general population and more so by considering robust adjustment for confounding factors. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the associations between circulating hepcidin and anthropometric, biochemical and vascular variables related to cardiometabolic risk in healthy individuals adjusting for relevant covariates.Two-hundred thirty nine individuals (20-65 years old) were included in this cross-sectional study. Outcome variables were fasting glucose, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and the Framingham risk score. Multivariate linear regression and ANCOVA analyses including covariates of body mass index (BMI), menopausal status, physical inactivity, alcohol intake, insulin resistance, subclinical/chronic inflammation, ferritin and soluble transferrin receptors were used to describe the associations between hepcidin and cardiometabolic risk markers.In adjusted linear regression analyses, there was no significant association in men. In women, a relationship between hepcidin and triglycerides became significant after adjustments (p 0.05). By comparing quartiles of hepcidin levels, systolic blood pressure values in men were significantly higher in the upper quartile of hepcidin vs. the rest of quartiles independently of BMI, chronic inflammation, insulin resistance and other iron markers (ANCOVA, p 0.05). There were no significant independent associations with the Framingham risk score (total points).We found a threshold effect of hepcidin levels on systolic blood pressure specifically in men. Further larger studies and experimental research are required to investigate possible mechanisms for the relationship between hepcidin metabolism and vascular function.

Evidence about the relationship between familial history (FH) of cardiometabolic disease (CMD) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Latin American populations is scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of FH of CMD and of dyslipidemia and obesity with MetS in healthy men.One-hundred-twenty one individuals were recruited. Waist circumference and blood pressure were measured by a trained researcher using standard techniques. Glycemia and lipid profile were determined by colorimetric assays. A survey to record personal data and family antecedents in siblings, aunts/uncles, parents, and grandparents was conducted by trained interviewers.Individuals having three or more familial antecedents were associated with high triglycerides level even after adjusting by age, sedentarism, fat and carbohydrates intake, and alcohol consumption. After adjusting for the same variables, FH of dyslipidemia and hypertension was also associated with high triglycerides levels and elevated waist circumference, respectively. The FH of stroke was associated with high blood pressure after adjusting for the rest of familial antecedents, and with MetS in all adjustment models.the findings of association of this study together with the previous reports are evidence of the importance of hereditary component as independent predictor of cardiovascular risk factors and its clustering, as well as of possible specific association patterns between FH of CMD and MetS depending on evaluated population in terms of ethnic groups and geographic region. Further studies are required in other populations, as well as exploration of genetic markers of CMD regarding to MetS.

The aim of this study was to evaluate body iron stores as predictors of insulin resistance. We developed a cross-sectional study among 123 men, 25–64 years of age and determined fasting plasma glucose, insulin, serum ferritin, and C-reactive protein levels. A survey was performed to record personal antecedents and family history of non-transmissible chronic diseases. Log-transformed ferritin levels was an independent predictor for log-transformed insulin resistance index assessed by homeostatic model assessment when body mass index or waist circumference were not included in multiple linear regression models. Sedentarism, heart attack family history, and log-C reactive protein levels were also significant predictors for insulin resistance. In conclusion, documented anthropometric predictors affect the significance of ferritin as a potential prediction variable for insulin resistance. Mechanisms of how body fat could influence ferritin levels should be evaluated. To our knowledge, this is the first evaluation of the relationship between body iron stores and insulin resistance in a Latin American population.

Background The World Health Report 2002 of the World Health Organization estimated that physical inactivity is one of the 10 main causes of morbidity and mortality and that the proportion of people whose health is at risk due to a sedentary lifestyle is approximately 60%. Objective To assess the relationship of physical activity level with cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome in 61 healthy men. Methods The short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) recommended by the World Health Organization was used as a valid measure to estimate two categories of physical activity, low (insufficient and sedentary) and vigorous (moderate and very active). Cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome were defined using the criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program of the United States and the International Diabetes Federation respectively. Serum levels of C-reactive protein and ferritin were also measured, and insulin sensitivity was estimated using the Homeostatic Model Assessment-Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). Results Mean population age was 47.1 ± 6.9 years. Seventeen participants (28%) had metabolic syndrome. There were no differences between the categories of low and vigorous physical activity, nor a relationship with total physical activity (MET x week). No association was observed between low levels of physical activity and metabolic syndrome criteria. Conclusions The high prevalence of physical inactivity found in study participants using the IPAQ questionnaire was not associated with cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome.

Introduction: The metabolic syndrome, a set of metabolic anomalies that include insulin resistance, central obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension and inflammation, is an important tool to explore factors associated to cardiometabolic disease. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of the levels of self-reported physical activity and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire items and the metabolic syndrome and the variables related to cardiovascular risk in 89 women. Materials and methods: The short version of International Physical Activity Questionnaire was applied to classify participating subjects into three categories: insufficient, sufficient and very active physical activity. The metabolic syndrome was assessed according to the International Diabetes Federation criteria. Biochemical and anthropometrical parameters were measured. Results: Twenty-two participants (23%) presented metabolic syndrome and 66 women (74.2%) were classified in the insufficient physical activity category. No association was found between insufficient physical activity and metabolic syndrome. Inverse correlations were found among the days and minutes per week of physical activity of moderate-intensity, waist circumference (?=-0.327, and ?=-0.313, p less than 0.005, respectively), and body mass index (?=-0.262, and ?=-0.218, p less than 0.05, respectively). Conclusion: A high prevalence of insufficient physical activity was found in the study participants, but this was not associated with metabolic syndrome. Moderate but not vigorous physical activity items from the International Physical Activity Questionnaire correlated inversely with anthropometrical markers related to cardiovascular risk.