Research Article Details

Article ID: A06172
PMID: 32979184
Source: Obes Surg
Title: Prevalence and Factors Associated with Hepatic Iron Overload in Obese Individuals Undergoing Bariatric Surgery: a Cross-Sectional Study.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Slight to moderate hepatic iron overload (HIO) can be found in cases of liver disease, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but the mechanism is not completely understood, as well as its relationship with obesity. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of HIO assessed through histopathological examination in obese individuals undergoing bariatric surgery and to identify correlations between this condition and demographic, anthropometric, clinical, laboratory, and NAFLD-related aspects. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study which enrolled individuals undergoing bariatric surgery from January 2018 to February 2019 at a tertiary university hospital. NAFLD and HIO were assessed through histological examination. RESULTS: Of 125 individuals, 87.2% were female and the average age was 38.8&#8201;&#177;&#8201;9.2&#160;years. The average BMI was 37.2&#8201;&#177;&#8201;3.1&#160;kg/m2. NAFLD was present in 66.4% and HIO in 17.6%, with 63.6% of patients with overload classified as mild (grade I) and 22.7% moderate (grade II). HIO was significantly more frequent in males (p&#8201;=&#8201;0.003) and was significantly associated with higher levels of glucose (92.1&#8201;&#177;&#8201;28.4 vs. 80.7&#8201;&#177;&#8201;39.6; p&#8201;=&#8201;0.02), ferritin (385.5&#8201;&#177;&#8201;290.9 vs. 131.6&#8201;&#177;&#8201;99.7; p&#8201;<&#8201;0.0001), serum iron (82.4&#8201;&#177;&#8201;35.7 vs. 66.6&#8201;&#177;&#8201;25.1; p&#8201;=&#8201;0.03), glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (27.3&#8201;&#177;&#8201;19.5 vs. 20.6&#8201;&#177;&#8201;8.8; p&#8201;=&#8201;0.02), and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (37.6&#8201;&#177;&#8201;36.4 vs. 24.6&#8201;&#177;&#8201;16.3; p&#8201;=&#8201;0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that HIO intensity was significant and independently associated with ferritin levels (R&#8201;=&#8201;0.19; p&#8201;=&#8201;0.01), serum iron (R&#8201;=&#8201;0.25; p&#8201;<&#8201;0.0001), blood glucose (R&#8201;=&#8201;0.16; p&#8201;=&#8201;0.001), and total cholesterol (R&#8201;=&#8201;-&#8201;0.17; p&#8201;<&#8201;0.0001). CONCLUSION: In obese individuals, HIO presented a high prevalence and was associated with higher levels of ferritin, serum iron, glucose, and transaminases; lower levels of total cholesterol; and male gender.
DOI: 10.1007/s11695-020-05003-3