Elevated Serum Ceruloplasmin Levels in Subjects with Metabolic Syndrome: a Population-based Study

Serum ceruloplasmin was reported to be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. We investigated whether serum ceruloplasmin level is elevated in subjects with metabolic syndrome (MS, insulin resistance syndrome) in a community-based population. A total 883 subjects over 40 years of age were studied among a population of the Chongup district, a rural area of South Korea. Serum ceruloplasmin levels were measured, and oral glucose tolerance tests were performed. Known cardiovascular risk factors, such as serum lipids, fasting insulin level, and urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER), were also measured. Serum ceruloplasmin levels in the subjects with MS (n = 167, 325 +/- 141 mg/L) were significantly higher than in those without MS (278 +/- 93 mg/L, P <.001). The mean ceruloplasmin level also increased as the glucose tolerance worsened (278 +/- 95 mg/L in normal glucose tolerance [NGT], 303 +/- 108 mg/L in impaired glucose regulation, and 328 +/- 148 mg/L in diabetes; P <.001). Serum ceruloplasmin level was positively correlated with age, fasting glucose, postload 2-hour glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and UAER and negatively with high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol. In multiple regression analysis, serum ceruloplasmin level was independently associated with age, fasting glucose, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, and UAER. In conclusion, serum ceruloplasmin level is elevated in the subjects with MS, as well as in subjects with impaired glucose regulation or diabetes mellitus. In addition, serum ceruloplasmin level is associated with various cardiovascular risk factors. These results suggest that elevated serum ceruloplasmin level can be a marker for metabolic stresses associated with MS.