Indices of iron homeostasis correlate with airway obstruction in an NHANES III cohort

Abstract

Cigarette smoking results in the accumulation of iron both systemically and locally, in the lung thereby causing imbalance in iron homeostasis. This disruption in iron homeostasis can be associated with oxidative stress and consequent tissue injury. Therefore, in this study, we tested the association between iron homeostasis and airway obstruction by examining a large cohort of smokers and non-smokers for relationships between 1) serum ferritin and iron concentrations and transferrin saturation and 2) forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV ₁), and their ratio (FEV ₁/FVC). Data from the National Health and Examination Survey III were analyzed. The study population included persons aged 20 years and above with their following data recorded: race, gender, serum ferritin and iron concentrations, and transferrin saturation; the final sample number was 7,251. In the total population, Pearson correlation coefficients between 1) serum ferritin and iron concentrations and transferrin saturation and 2) FVC and FEV ₁ were significantly positive; whereas those between 1) serum ferritin concentrations and transferrin saturation and 2) FEV ₁/FVC were significantly negative. With separate analyses, serum ferritin concentrations demonstrated positive associations with FVC and FEV ₁ but an inverse relationship with FEV ₁/FVC in smokers and non-smokers. Serum ferritin levels increased with worsening airway obstruction among smokers, and its highest concentrations were found among those with the lowest values of FEV ₁/FVC ratio (<60%). Comparable to cigarette smokers, serum ferritin concentrations among non-smokers were greatest in those with the lowest FEV ₁/FVC ratio. Furthermore, elevated levels of serum iron and saturation of transferrin also corresponded with decreased FEV ₁/FVC ratio among non-smokers. Thus, we conclude that indices of iron homeostasis are associated with airway obstruction in both smokers and non-smokers.