The Role of Iron Overload in Systemic Iron Homeostasis, Proinflammatory Biomarkers and Obesity Etiopathogenesis

Obesity is associated with low-grade subclinical inflammation, systemic iron deficiency and hypoferremia. However, obesity is up-regulating iron regulatory hormone called hepcidin leading to increase iron store in liver and adipose tissue. On the other hand, iron overload in adipose tissue increases systemic insulin resistance and iron handling by macrophages, and this could lead to the development of obesity, dyslipidemia, disglycemia and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Given that, the importance of the complicated metabolic interference between iron and obesity has been studied and many proposed mechanisms have been placed. Hence, the objective of this critical review was to discuss the role iron overload in systemic iron homeostasis, proinflammatory biomarkers and obesity etiopathogenesis.