The effect of therapy on plasma ghrelin and leptin levels, and appetite in children with iron deficiency anemia

Iron Deficiency is Related to Depressive Symptoms in United States Nonpregnant Women of Reproductive Age: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of NHANES 2005-2010

BACKGROUND

Findings of the association between iron status and depressive symptoms in nonpregnant women of reproductive age (WRA) are equivocal, limited by a small sample size, or did not consistently control for confounders.

OBJECTIVE

We tested the association between iron status and depressive symptoms in WRA with the NHANES data (2005-2010).

METHODS

Nonpregnant WRA (20-44 y) with complete data on iron (ferritin and transferrin receptor (TfR)) and anemia (hemoglobin) biomarkers, depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), and sociodemographic variables were included. Logistic and negative binomial regressions were used to estimate presence (odds ratios) and magnitude (prevalence ratios), respectively, for depressive symptoms by iron deficiency (ID)/anemia/ID anemia in the total sample and stratified by poverty:income ratio (≤ 1.85 or >1.85).

RESULTS

Among 2516 females, the prevalence of ID was 8 to 16% (depending on the iron biomarker used), of anemia 8%, of which 52 to 65% were also ID. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 10%. Crude logistic models showed that females with ID (TfR ≥ 8.3 mg/L or body iron <0 mg/kg) from the total sample had 1.82 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24, 2.68) and 1.62 (95% CI: 1.05, 2.48), respectively, higher odds of depressive symptoms than females with iron sufficiency; these associations were attenuated after adjustments for confounders. Adjusted negative binomial models showed that females with ID (TfR ≥ 8.3 mg/L) from the total and low-income samples showed 1.19 (95% CI: 1:00, 1.40) and 1.27 (95% CI: 1.03, 1.58), respectively, higher prevalence ratios of depressive symptoms scores than females with iron sufficiency.

CONCLUSIONS

These nationally representative data indicate that nonpregnant WRA with ID (based on high TfR) in the United States have higher prevalence of somatic depressive symptoms scores than those with iron sufficiency, especially if they are of low income.

Djulis Hull Enhances the Efficacy of Ferric Citrate Supplementation via Restoring Normal Iron Efflux through the IL-6-Hepcidin-Ferroportin Pathway in High-Fat-Diet-Induced Obese Rats

Obesity-related functional iron disorder remains a major nutritional challenge. We evaluated the effects of djulis hull (DH) on iron metabolism in 50% high-fat-diet-induced obese rats supplemented with ferric citrate (2 g iron/kg diet) for 12 weeks. DH supplementation (5, 10, 15% dry weight/kg diet) significantly increased serum and hepatic iron but decreased appetite hormones, body weight, hepcidin, and liver inflammation (all p < 0.05). The Spearman correlation showed that appetite hormones were negatively associated with iron but positively correlated with liver hepcidin (all p < 0.05). A Western blot analysis showed that DH significantly downregulated hepatic hepcidin through the IL-6-JAK-STAT3 and enhanced ferroportin (Fpn) via the Keap1-Nrf2 and PHD2-HIF-2α. An in vitro study revealed that major bioactive compounds of DH, hexacosanol, and squalene suppressed LPS-induced IL-6 and hepcidin but enhanced Fpn expression in activated THP-1 cells. In conclusion, DH may exert nutraceutical properties for the treatment of functional iron disorder and restoration of iron efflux may have beneficial effects on weight control.

Excessive weight loss after bariatric surgery: a prediction model retrospective cohort study

Bariatric surgery has been recognized as the most effective long-term treatment for morbid obesity. Despite the considerable positive results, adverse consequence can develop. Excessive Weight Loss (EXWL), a rare consequence of bariatric surgery, can lead to a broad adverse consequence. The aim of this study was determining of prevalence and the predicting model of EXWL in patient underwent bariatric surgery until 24 months after surgery. Data have been extracted from the National Obesity Surgery Database in obesity clinic of Iran University of Medical Sciences. The subjects of this retrospective cohort study were morbid obese individuals who underwent three various types of bariatric surgery [One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass (OAGB), Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB), or Sleeve Gastrectomy (SG)] in period of 24 months ago. EXWL has been defined as reaching to less than or equal to BMI 18.5 at any time until 24 months after surgery. SPSS was used in data analysis. Among 4214 subjects of this study, most excess weight loss after surgery has taken place in 18 months after surgery. 11.4% (n = 495) of patients experienced EXWL with highest percentage among OAGB patients (15.1%) at time of 24 months after surgery. The females (20.4% vs.9.9%) and younger persons (35.45 ± 10.25 vs. 39.06 ± 10.76) were more susceptible to EXWL. Patients with EXWL had significantly lower BMI (body mass index) (41.11 ± 4.51 vs. 46.73 ± 6.26) (Kg/m²), and were less probable to had emotional eating. Visceral fat level, fat percentage, and BMI were the best predictor of EXWL (P value for all < 0.05). So that per level increase in visceral fat, decreases the probability of EXWL as 47% and 61% in SG and OAGB. Moreover, each unit lower BMI leads to 25% higher susceptibility to experience EXWL. Surgery should be adjusted in younger females with a lower BMI and healthy metabolic status who are more prone to EXWL. In such a way that minimize weight loss speed/value. It may be possible by selection of other surgery procedures, rather than OAGB, tighter follow-ups, and consultations of patients after surgery is emphasized for more EXWL vulnerable patients.

Changes of Serum Ferritin, Hemoglobin, and Serum Iron (SI) and Treatment Effect of Iron Proteinsuccinylate Oral Solution Combined with Vitamin A and D Drops on Children with Nutritional Iron Deficiency Anemia

Objective

The purpose was to evaluate the treatment effect of iron proteinsuccinylate oral solution combined with vitamin A and D drops on children with nutritional iron deficiency anemia.

Methods

124 children treated in the outpatient department of our hospital from January 2017 to January 2020 were selected as the study subjects. They were randomly divided into control and observation two groups. The control group was treated with iron proteinsuccinylate oral solution (1.5 mL/kg) in the morning and evening, respectively. The observation group received adjuvant treatment with oral vitamin A and D drops based on the treatment of the control group. The treatment effect of proteinsuccinylate oral solution combined with vitamin A and D drops was evaluated by the serum iron (SI), serum ferritin (SF), and transferrin (TRF) levels, the values of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, and CD4⁺/CD8⁺, and other evaluation indicators.

Results

After treatment, the SI and SF levels of children in both groups significantly increased (P < 0.01) while the TRF level significantly decreased (P < 0.01), and the SI and SF levels in the observation group increased more significantly, and the TRF level decreased more significantly compared with those in the control group (P < 0.01). After treatment, the values of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ of children in both groups significantly increased compared with those before treatment (P < 0.01), and the values of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ increased more significantly in the observation group compared with those in the control group (P < 0.01). In addition, the evaluation results of treatment effect showed that the markedly effective rate in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

Iron proteinsuccinylate oral solution combined with vitamin A and D drops can better improve the anemia symptoms in children, with high application value.

Relationship between Energy Balance and Circulating Levels of Hepcidin and Ferritin in the Fasted and Postprandial States

Markers of iron metabolism are altered in new-onset diabetes, but their relationship with metabolic signals involved in the maintenance of energy balance is poorly understood. The primary aim was to explore the associations between markers of iron metabolism (hepcidin and ferritin) and markers of energy balance (leptin, ghrelin, and the leptin/ghrelin ratio) in both the fasted and postprandial states. These associations were also studied in the sub-groups stratified by diabetes status. This was a cross-sectional study of individuals without disorders of iron metabolism who were investigated after an overnight fast and, in addition, some of these individuals underwent a mixed meal test to determine postprandial responses of metabolic signals. The associations between hepcidin, ferritin, and leptin, ghrelin, leptin/ghrelin ratio were studied using several multiple linear regression models. A total of 76 individuals in the fasted state and 34 individuals in the postprandial state were included. In the overall cohort, hepcidin was significantly inversely associated with leptin (in the most adjusted model, the β coefficient ± SE was -883.45 ± 400.94; p = 0.031) and the leptin/ghrelin ratio (in the most adjusted model, the β coefficient ± SE was -148.26 ± 61.20; p = 0.018) in the fasted state. The same associations were not statistically significant in the postprandial state. In individuals with new-onset prediabetes or diabetes (but not in those with normoglycaemia or longstanding prediabetes or diabetes), hepcidin was significantly inversely associated with leptin (in the most adjusted model, the β coefficient ± SE was -806.09 ± 395.44; p = 0.050) and the leptin/ghrelin ratio (in the most adjusted model, the β coefficient ± SE was -129.40 ± 59.14; p = 0.037). Leptin appears to be a mediator in the link between iron metabolism and new-onset diabetes mellitus. These findings add to the growing understanding of mechanisms underlying the derangements of glucose metabolism.

Fasting Increases Iron Export by Modulating Ferroportin 1 Expression Through the Ghrelin/GHSR1α/MAPK Pathway in the Liver

The liver is contributed to maintaining body iron homeostasis and controlling of body adaptation to fasting. Although previous studies implied a negative relationship between iron and ghrelin in both mice and humans, it remains to be explored whether fasting or ghrelin has a functional effect on iron homeostasis in the liver. In this study, we examined the roles of fasting and ghrelin in modulating the protein expression of Fpn1, transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1), and ferritin light chain (Ft-L), as well as the mRNA expression of ghrelin, hepcidin, ghrelin O-acyltransferase (GOAT), and growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1 alpha (GHSR1α) in mouse liver and cultured hepatocytes. Our in vivo results suggested that fasting significantly upregulated the mRNA expression of ghrelin, GOAT, and GHSR1α, as well as the protein levels of ghrelin, Fpn1, and Ft-L, but not TfR1, in mouse liver. Interestingly, mRNA expression of hepcidin did not change significantly after fasting. Meanwhile, in cultured hepatocytes, ghrelin significantly increased the protein expression of Fpn1 but not Ft-L and TfR1 and significantly enhanced ERK phosphorylation. Furthermore, the pretreatment of cultured hepatocytes with either a pERK inhibitor or a GHSR1α antagonist abolished the effects of ghrelin on Fpn1 expression and ERK phosphorylation. Our findings confirmed that fasting increases iron export in the liver by upregulating Fpn1 expression through the ghrelin/GHSR1α/MAPK signaling pathway.