Researchers of a recent study explored the relationship between iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A retrospective analysis of 1,398 patients found that lower hemoglobin levels were associated with an increased risk of DKD. Logistic regression confirmed IDA as an independent risk factor for DKD. Mendelian randomization analyses supported a causal link between IDA and DKD but found no significant evidence that iron supplementation contributed to DKD risk. These findings suggest that IDA itself, rather than iron therapy, may play a direct role in DKD development.

Further investigation using gene expression data from an iron-deficient diet model identified 580 differentially expressed genes associated with kidney function. These genes were enriched in biological pathways related to cytokine signaling, oxidative stress, and small molecule transport. Protein-protein interaction analysis revealed several hub genes potentially involved in this mechanism, including Cyp2d26 and Fgf4. Overall, the study concludes that IDA may contribute to DKD pathogenesis through biological stress and transport disruption, while iron supplementation appears to be safe in this population.

Reference: Huang B, Wen W, Ye S. Iron-Deficiency Anemia Elevates Risk of Diabetic Kidney Disease in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. J Diabetes. 2025;17(2):e70060. doi: 10.1111/1753-0407.70060.