Girona, who was not involved in these two studies.“This research demonstrates that the association is causally related. Iron leads to increased ferritin synthesis in parallel to repressing adiponectin production. In addition, this mechanism could be an important mediator of the association between iron and risk of T2DM.” In the first study, Wlazlo et al. investigated the association of several markers of iron metabolism with plasma adiponectin levels and adipocyte insulin resistance in 492 individuals with or at increased risk of T2DM or cardiovascular disease. Adipocyte insulin resistance is thought to be an early event in the pathogenesis of T2DM and is defined as the product of fasting insulin and nonesterified free fatty acid levels. The researchers show associations of several markers of iron metabolism with adipocyte insulin resistance, after adjustment for several covariants. Markers of iron metabolism were also associated with nonesterified free fatty acid levels. Two markers of iron metabolism, ferritin and transferrin, were also inversely associated with adiponectin levels.