Serum levels of hepcidin in patients with biopsy-proven nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Abstract

Research suggests the presence of mild-to-moderate iron overload in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The role played by hepcidin, the master regulatory hormone of systemic iron metabolism, in the pathogenesis of NAFLD remains controversial. The aims of this study were to: (1) Evaluate serum hepcidin levels in patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD and age- and sex-matched controls and (2) identify the potential associations of hepcidin with the clinical and biochemical characteristics of the study participants.