No association between serum ferritin and asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis: The atherosclerosis risk in communities (aric) study

A possible association between body iron stores, measured as serum ferritin, and carotid arterial intimamedia thickening was investigated in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study during 1990-1992 using a matched case-control design. For a 143μg/liter greater serum ferritin concentration (the interquartile range), the odds ratio for cases with carotid intima-media thickening versus controls was 1.12 (95% confidence interval 0.97-1.30). However, there was no association (odds ratio = 1.00) after adjusting for major cardio vascular risk factors. This analysis of carotid arterial intima-media thickening, a measure of early atherosclerosis, in relation to serum ferritin does not support the hypothesis that increased body iron stores increase the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Am J Epidemiol 1995;141:719-23.