Shaymaa M. Hassan*, Amira M. Abdel Azim
 
Background: Overweight or obesity within the last few decades has become a complex health problem, that’s why The World Health Organization (WHO) in 1997 considered obesity a worldwide epidemic. Obesity was considered to be related to high socioeconomic status, nowadays it is also a widespread disorder in developing countries Several studies indicated the correlation between obesity and abnormal iron homeostasis. Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) is a frequent and main finding in obese patients. This was explained by the fact that adipose tissue can create an “inflammatory milieu” that release multiple inflammatory mediators such as interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, tumer necrosis factor α (TNF-α), also adipokines like leptin, resistin. Also the peptide hormone Hepcidin, the main regulator of iron metabolism can be secreted by adipocytes.

Subjects and Methods: This study included sixty patients divided among three groups. Group I: This group included adults whose body mass index (BMI) was less than 25%, and their hemoglobin level was less than 11 gms/dl.(Non-obese patients with iron deficiency anemia). Group II: This group included adults whose BMI was more than 30 % and their hemoglobin level is less than 11gms/dl.(Obese with iron deficiency anemia). Group III: This group included healthy controls with body mass index less than 25 %. (Non- obese healthy subjects). A venous blood sample was collected from each patient for the detection of serum resistin levels.

Results:There was a statistically significant difference between Resistin levels in the three groups (P-value <0.001). Pair-wise comparisons between the groups revealed that Group II showed the statistically significantly highest mean Resistin level. Group I showed statistically significantly lower value. Group III showed the statistically significantly lowest mean Resistin level. Also there was a statistically significant difference between Hb levels in the three groups (P-value <0.001). Group III showed the statistically significantly highest mean Hb level. Group II showed statistically significantly lower value. Group I showed the statistically significantly lowest mean Hb level. In Group II There was a statistically significant direct correlation between serum Resistin level and BMI. There was a statistically significant inverse correlation between Resistin level and Hb level indicating that an increase in Hb level is associated with a decrease in Resistin level and vice versa.

Conclusion: There is a direct relation between the elevated serum resistin levels in patients suffering from both obesity and IDA. Serum resistin levels were not higher in patients with anemia and normal body weight. This increase was attributed to the inflammatory condition created by the adipose tissues.