Hepcidin as biomarker for RLS - study

[PoorRichard]

Very interesting study regarding hepcidin, which regulates iron absorbtion, showing the hepcidin may be a more reliable biomarker of RLS than ferritin level. The punchline is - while many RLS sufferers have normal ferritin levels, most have higher hepcidin levels, which are not typically measured. The research design is noteworthy, too, in that it factored in age, comorbitities, BMI, and DAs.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl....

[Hidden]

Now why the heck is our hepcidin levels elevated compared to controls?

[PoorRichard in reply to Hidden]

Inflammation?

[Hidden in reply to PoorRichard]

Dopamine is anti-inflammatory. We have less dopamine going through our central and peripheral nervous system than probably controls. Does that translate to more inflammation and more hepcidin. Thankfully hepcidin has a circadian rhythm and when we’re taking our iron before bed it’s at a low point. I think we’re doing the most we can do in that regard. The anti-inflammatory diet (if there is such a thing) might also help.

[WideBody in reply to Hidden]

Hepcidin is produced by the body to block iron absorption.

Vitamin D blocks hepcidin. Maybe that explains why it can help RLS.

Sorry I don't have time to read the study.

[vikkkk]

Thanks for sharing! Very interesting to read

[Bluebboat]

This is most interesting and it all makes sense. I wonder if there is a drug that lowers hepcidin?

[WideBody in reply to Bluebboat]

Vitamin D blocks hepcidin. "In conclusion, vitamin D regulates the hepcidin-ferroportin axis in macrophages which may facilitate iron egress. Improvement in vitamin D status in patients with CKD may reduce systemic hepcidin levels and may ameliorate anemia of CKD."

sciencedirect.com/science/a...

I still don't have time to read the article.

[Munroist]

Interesting, thanks for sharing. It seems consistent with the fact that ferritin levels do not have a closely coupled relationship with restless legs, although very generally, higher ferritin levels correspond with less severe RLS in a number of people. One thing which occurred to me is whether hepcidin has some role in preventing iron getting into the brain other than just limiting absorption from the gut. We know that taking oral iron every other day allows greater uptake by reducing hepcidin concentration so I’m wondering whether the benefits of oral iron are as much about the reduction of hepcidin as the increase in iron uptake.

[WideBody in reply to Munroist]

I occurred to you correctly, see my comment above.