Abstract
Background and Aim: The main aim of the present work was to establish the relationship between ferritin level (FERR) and glucose status in diabetic Saudi females and to validate serum FERR as a marker of insulin resistance (IR).

Methods: This case- control study was done on 180 subjects including 100 female patients with type 2 diabetes and 80 healthy female (control) of the same age were enrolled. Fasting blood samples were procured to measure concentrations of FERR by an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay using the Cobas e 411 immunoassay analyzer. Fasting serum glucose, glycated hemoglobin, lipid profile, kidney function tests and minerals were automatically measured by Siemens Dimension X P and auto analyzer. The association of FERR with parameters of adiposity, glucose tolerance, and lipid profile was examined.

Results: In the present study, unpaired student’s t test detected significant increase in the FERR levels in diabetic female patients compared to the control (p< 0.05). A noteworthy positive correlation of FERR with IR (r=0.632) and fasting insulin levels (r=0.497) was observed in female patients. Furthermore, the Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP=Log TG/HDL) conjectured cardiovascular risk showing that 65% of these patients with diabetes had increased risk while only 20% had intermediary risk. The AIP predicts that the cardiovascular risk showed statistically significant correlation with FERR levels and hyperglycemia.

Conclusions: High serum FERR level was associated with impaired glucose metabolism and increased cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes female patients.

Key words: Cardiovascular Risk, Metabolic Syndrome, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Serum Ferritin