Association among serum ferritin, alanine aminotransferase levels, and metabolic syndrome in Korean postmenopausal women

We examined the relationships among serum ferritin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, and cardiovascular risk factors of metabolic syndrome in Korean postmenopausal women. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 959 postmenopausal women without an apparent cause of liver disease. Metabolic syndrome was defined as the presence of at least 3 of the following: elevated blood pressure, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, elevated serum triglycerides, elevated plasma glucose, and abdominal obesity. Serum ferritin and ALT levels were found to be correlated (r = 0.374, P < .001) and to be associated with the components of metabolic syndrome. Subjects with metabolic syndrome showed significantly higher serum ferritin (74.7 ± 2.0 vs 59.6 ± 2.0 ng/mL, P < .001) and ALT levels (21.3 ± 1.6 vs 18.7 ± 1.5 IU/L, P < .001). Moreover, the greater the number of metabolic syndrome components present, the higher were the serum ferritin and ALT levels (P < .001). Multiple regression analysis showed that serum ALT levels are significantly associated with serum ferritin levels, waist circumference, fasting blood glucose, age, and white blood cell count (adjusted R² = 0.147). Elevated iron stores were positively associated with serum ALT levels and metabolic syndrome in Korean postmenopausal women.