Introduction. Adolescence is characterized by increased iron necessities. In the last decades there is increased interest in the new factors’ participation to maintain iron homeostasis. The peptide hepcidin is a hormone playing a key role in the regulation of iron metabolism, which is also closely connected with the homeostasis of other trace elements. Their interactions and bounding inter-links are the focus of extensive studies.
The objective of the study was to evaluate hepcidin and selenium participation in the maintenance of iron homeostasis in adolescents.
Material and methods. A total of 23 adolescents with iron deficiency anemia (IDA, n=12) and healthy controls (n=11) were included in the study. We measured the serum concentrations of hepcidin, interleukin- 6 (IL-6) and selenium, red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, erythrocyte indices and biochemical markers of iron metabolism (serum iron, total iron-binding capacity, transferrin saturation and serum ferritin).
Results. The study demonstrated statistically significant differences in the serum concentrations of hepcidin, IL-6 and selenium between IDA children and healthy controls, a statistically significant higher proportion of children having below-threshold serum selenium concentrations in the study group compared to controls, statistically significant correlations between hepcidin and selenium serum concentrations, hematological indicators and biochemical markers of iron metabolism in the IDA children.
Conclusions. The results of our study would contribute to define more clearly the role of factors regulating iron metabolism. The clinical studies investigating hepcidin and selenium participation in the iron homeostasis maintenance should be extended.
Full text sources https://doi.org/10.31688/ABMU.2023.58.3.03
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Tsvetelina V. PETKOVA-MARINOVA
Medical University – Pleven
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