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Kim, Lee, Lee, Kim, Moon, Jung, Kim, and Kim: The Relationship between Serum Ferritin Concentrations, Smoking and Lung Function in Korean
Original Article
Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2012; 72(2): 163-168.

Published online: 29 February 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2012.72.2.163

The Relationship between Serum Ferritin Concentrations, Smoking and Lung Function in Korean

Seo Yun Kim, M.D.1, 3, Su Hwan Lee, M.D.1, In Seon Lee, M.D.1, Sae Byol Kim, M.D.1, Chan Soo Moon, M.D.1, Sung Mo Jung, M.D.1, Se Kyu Kim, M.D., Ph.D.1, 2, Young Sam Kim, M.D., Ph.D.1, 2

1Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

2Institute of Chest Diseases, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

3Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine and Lung Institute of Medical Research Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Address for correspondence: Young Sam Kim, M.D., Ph.D. Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50, Yonsei-ro, Seodaemoon-gu, Seoul 120-752, Korea. Phone: 82-2-2228-1971, Fax: 82-2-393-6884, ysamkim@yuhs.ac

Received 3 November 2011       Revised 28 November 2011       Accepted 4 January 2012

Copyright © 2012. The Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases. All rights reserved.

Abstract

Background

Cigarette smoke induced release of iron could alter iron metabolism in the lungs of chronic smokers and contribute to the increase in the total oxidative burden on the lungs of smokers. In previous studies, ferritin levels of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in smokers were elevated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between serum ferritin concentration, smoking and lung function in Korean people.

Methods

This study was based on the data acquired in the second year (2008) of the Forth National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey that was conducted from 2007 to 2009. The analysis included 2,244 subjects who were older than 20 years and had complete data from both lung function test and serum ferritin concentration. Among participants, 1,076 were male and 1,168 were female.

Results

Mean serum ferritin concentrations in males were 120.3±80.1 µg/L and 47.9±39.8 µg/L in females. There were no differences in serum ferritin concentrations between non-smokers and smokers after adjusting for age, body mass index, and amounts of alcohol. Serum ferritin concentrations were associated with smoking amounts by simple linear regression but not associated with smoking amounts after adjustment with age, body mass index, and amounts of alcohol in both males and females. Lung function was not associated with serum ferritin concentrations.

Conclusion

Our data suggested that serum ferritin concentrations are not related with smoking and lung function.

Keywords: Ferritins, Smoking, Respiratory Function Tests

Figures and Tables

Table 1
Characteristics of participants according to gender
trd-72-163-i001

Data are presented as mean±SD.

BMI: body mass index; FEV1: forced expiratory volume in one second; FVC: forced vital capacity; SD: standard deviation.

Table 2
Correlation between serum ferritin concentration and clinical parameters
trd-72-163-i002
Table 3
Mean serum ferritin concentration by smoking status
trd-72-163-i003

*Adjusted for age, amounts of alcohol and body mass index.

Table 4
Relationship between serum ferritin concentration and smoking amounts
trd-72-163-i004

BMI: body mass index.

Table 5
Relationship between serum ferritin concentrations and FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC
trd-72-163-i005

*Adjusted for smoking amounts. †Adjusted for age and smoking amounts.

FEV1: forced expiratory volume in one second; FVC: forced vital capacity.

Table 6
Serum ferritin as a predictor of decreased lung function (multiple logistic regression)
trd-72-163-i006

*Adjusted for smoking amounts. †Adjusted for age and smoking amounts.

OR: odds ratio; CI: confidential interval.

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