Relation between iron stores and non-insulin dependent diabetes in men: case-control study

Abstract

Non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus is a common complication of diseases of iron overload such as haemochromatosis; 53-80% of patients with haemochromatosis develop diabetes.1 The development of diabetes in haemochromatosis is related to the magnitude of the excess iron.1 In a cross sectional, population based study of over 1000 middle aged men in eastern Finland we found that fasting concentrations of serum insulin and blood glucose were raised in men with high serum concentrations of ferritin (an indication of raised stores of iron).2 Iron is a catalyst of free radical stress, and it has been suggested that free radicals and lipid peroxidation play a part in the aetiology of diabetes.3 Formation of hydroxyl radicals catalysed by iron may play an important part in the development of diabetes since the cells that produce insulin are extraordinarily sensitive to damage from oxidation.3 In another cohort study low plasma concentrations of …