The effect of hepcidin on components of metabolic syndrome in chronic kidney disease: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Hepcidin is an important regulator of iron homeostasis. OBJECTIVES: This cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the association between hepcidin and components of metabolic syndrome in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). DESIGN AND SETTING: 103 CKD patients and 59 healthy volunteers were included in the study from the University Hospital. METHODS: Serum hepcidin levels were measured by enyzme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. As for the study parameters, age, sex, body mass index, renal diseases, serum biochemistry, complete blood count, iron and total iron-binding capacity, ferritin, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), C- reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 58.63 +/- 11.8 years. Hepcidin level was significantly associated with hypertension and higher uric acid levels (P < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between hepcidin and urea, uric acid, creatinine, ferritin, CRP, ESR, phosphorus, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), proteinuria and albuminuria in 24-hour urine collection. A negative correlation was found between hepcidin and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), hemoglobin, hematocrit, calcium, 25 OH vitamin D, pH, and bicarbonate levels. CONCLUSION: Hepcidin, a well-known hormone regulator of iron metabolism, may play an important role in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome in patients with CKD, and further studies might delineate in-depth its potential as a promising early marker in these patients.