| Summary: | Limited evidence suggests that serum iron and hepcidin concentrations are dysregulated in obesity and inflammation. The objective of the present study was to compare C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, circulating levels of hepcidin, serum lipids, and iron status in obese vs. normal-weight women of childbearing age. Healthy women aged 18–30 years were recruited for the study (<i>n</i> = 47: 25 obese and 22 normal weight). Fasting blood samples were obtained to measure serum lipids (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, non-HDL cholesterol), complete blood count, serum iron, total iron-binding capacity, transferrin saturation, serum ferritin, hepcidin, C-reactive protein, and interleukin-6. Obese women had significantly higher mean serum C-reactive protein (<i>p</i> < 0.001), interleukin-6 (<i>p</i> < 0.001), hepcidin (<i>p</i> = 0.024), triglycerides (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and total cholesterol/HDL ratio (<i>p</i> < 0.001) but lower HDL (<i>p</i> = 0.001) and serum iron/hepcidin ratio (<i>p</i> = 0.011) compared with normal-weight women. BMI correlated positively with inflammatory markers, triglycerides, LDL and total cholesterol/HDL ratio, and negatively with HDL and serum iron/hepcidin ratio. Serum iron correlated negatively with ferritin in the obese group (<i>p</i> = 0.030) but positively in normal weight women (<i>p</i> = 0.002). BMI and ferritin were the only predictors of serum iron/hepcidin ratio accounting for 23% of the variation among subjects. Studies are needed to examine anti-inflammatory dietary approaches that can improve iron biomarkers in obese women.
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