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Is Iron Accumulation a Possible Risk Factor for Sarcopenia?

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Abstract

Sarcopenia has a high incidence among the elderly, with significant negative effects on the quality of life. The pathogenesis of sarcopenia is complex, and many factors are involved in its development and progression. Sarcopenia might be associated with iron accumulation given that (1) age-related iron accumulation was found in the skeletal muscle, (2) excess iron could cause skeletal muscle damage or atrophy, and (3) patients with sarcopenia showed higher levels of serum ferritin. Understanding the etiology and pathogenesis of sarcopenia would help to develop new treatment and preventive methods, thereby improving the quality of life of the elderly patients.

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Fig. 1

Abbreviations

DMT1 :

divalent metal transporter 1

HJV :

hemojuvelin

TfR1 :

transferrin receptor 1

IRP2 :

iron regulatory protein 2

FPN1 :

ferroportin 1

ROS :

reactive oxygen species

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Funding

This work was partially supported by the Jiangsu provincial key research and development program (No. BE2016720), and Jiangsu provincial maternal and child health program (No. F201506).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212000, China

    Guoyang Zhao

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  1. Guoyang Zhao
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Correspondence to Guoyang Zhao.

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Zhao, G. Is Iron Accumulation a Possible Risk Factor for Sarcopenia?. Biol Trace Elem Res 186, 379–383 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-018-1332-z

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