Ferroptosis and Metabolic Hyperferritinemia: Emerging Roles in MASLD, MASH, and Cognitive Decline
Speakers
Stephanie Venn-Watson, DVM, MPH
Ferroptosis is a new form of nonapoptotic cell death discovered by researchers at Columbia University in 2012. Metabolic hyperferritinemia is a recently described condition associated with ferroptosis, fatty liver disease, and metabolic syndrome (including dyslipidemia and insulin resistance), with iron overload in some individuals. Since its discovery, over 20,000 peer-reviewed studies have been published on ferroptosis, which may be involved with aging, as well as the onset and severity of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), and cognitive decline. Further, a recent study reported metabolic hyperferritinemia in approximately 1 in 10 people in the population studied. Despite growing attention to ferroptosis, metabolic hyperferritinemia, and MASLD, it remains unclear how these conditions may be related. An unexpected discovery in older Navy dolphins with related conditions raised the possibility of a new nutritional insufficiency pattern that may also be relevant to humans. Today, over 150 peer-reviewed studies have explored the hypothesis that C15:0 status may be associated with ferroptosis and biological processes related to aging.
Key takeaways
- Understand the pathophysiology of ferroptosis and metabolic hyperferritinemia, as well as their potential implications across metabolic, liver, cardiovascular, and cognitive health.
- Learn the key clinical biomarkers used to assess ferroptosis and metabolic hyperferritinemia, as well as to monitor response to interventions.
- Explore approaches being studied in relation to ferroptosis and associated iron overload, including emerging research that ferroptosis may be influenced by nutritional status.
