If I’ve understood this correctly, with metabolic syndrome, iron stores increase so hepcidin increases, which causes more iron to be stored, which is obviously a very unhelpful move by the body. Why might this be?

Dr. Amy Nett:  Okay, so I think what you’re saying is again there is an association between high ferritin and metabolic syndrome. But in terms of why that happens and the underlying cause, I’m not sure what the answer is to that. And you’re right. It is an unfavorable adaptation.