Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by dopaminergic neuronal degeneration in the substantia nigra pars compacta and Lewy body formation. Altered iron metabolism is increasingly implicated in PD pathogenesis; however, peripheral iron transport biomarkers remain insufficiently explored, particularly in Indian populations.
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate transferrin saturation (TSAT) and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) as peripheral biomarkers of iron metabolism in Parkinson's disease and to determine their association with disease status.
Methods: A hospital-based case-control study was conducted including 100 clinically diagnosed PD subjects and 100 non-PD subjects which are age- and sex-matched. Serum transferrin, ferritin, TSAT, and TIBC were assessed using automated analyzers. TIBC and TSAT were calculated using standard biochemical formulas. Statistical analysis included independent sample t-test, univariate and multivariable binary logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.
Results: PD subjects showed significantly lower TSAT (14.17 ± 5.13% vs. 28.76 ± 8.10%, p < 0.001) and ferritin levels (53.91 ± 34.10 vs. 99.65 ± 82.85, p < 0.001), whereas TIBC was significantly higher (88.28 ± 20.18 vs. 81.37 ± 11.20, p = 0.003) compared to controls. In multivariable regression analysis, TSAT remained independently associated with PD (AOR = 0.659; 95% CI: 0.579-0.750; p < 0.001). ROC analysis demonstrated modest discrimination for TIBC (AUC = 0.631), while TSAT and ferritin showed inverse AUC values due to their lower distribution among PD cases.
Conclusion: Parkinson's disease subjects exhibited significant alterations in peripheral iron transport markers. Reduced transferrin saturation emerged as an independent biomarker associated with PD, supporting systemic iron maldistribution and altered functional iron availability in disease pathophysiology.
Keywords: Parkinson's disease; transferrin saturation; total iron-binding capacity; ferritin; iron metabolism.
How to cite this article: Verma I, Batra J, Agarwal R, Tripathi CB, Kushwaha S, Transferrin Saturation And Total Iron-Binding Capacity As Iron-Metabolism Biomarkers In Parkinson's Disease: Evidence From An Indian Population. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(4s): 597-602; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.4s.70
Source of support: Nil
Conflict of interest: None