Abstract

WA key step for developing atherosclerosis and cardiovascular ischemic diseases is lipid peroxidation. Metabolism of iron is closely associated with oxidative stress and could be contributing cardiometabolic risk factor. Redox-active iron is effectively controlled by ferritin induced sequestration and ferroxidase activity. One source of redox-active iron could be ferritin. Iron-derived reactive oxygen species are involved in pathogenesis of vascular damages, mediating cytotoxicity and inflammation. Inflammatory cytokines increase gene expression to ferritin, and ferritin expression is also increased in atherosclerotic plaque. The objective of the study is the investigation of correlation between ferritin and cardiovascular risk in obese subjects. Subjects and methods: The investigation included 47 obese persons, analyzing body mass index and body composition, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and ferritin. Familiar affinity for cardiovascular diseases was determined through investigation of presence of cardiovascular diseases in close relatives (parents and siblings) before 65 years of age. Cardiometabolic risk was determined on the basis of Euro 03 Score tables. Results: Ferritin had no influence upon the risk of development of ten years risk for fatal cardiovascular disease. Ferritin indirectly correlated with HDL-cholesterol (p=0.049), and was directly related with familiar affinity for cardiovascular diseases (p=0.028). Subjects with increased total cardiovascular risk (Euro03 Score >5%) had higher mean ferritin value than those with lower risk score (Euro03 Score <5%). Conclusions: Ferritin represents dependent but important predictor of cardiovascular risk if it is analyzed together with the decreased values of HDL-cholesterol and familiar affinity for ischemic heart disease. Keywords: obesity, ferritin, iron, cardiovascular risk.