In obesity, which nutrient deficiency is most commonly observed due to chronic inflammation?

• A. Iron deficiency due to inflammation
• B. Vitamin C deficiency
• C. Calcium deficiency
• D. Vitamin B6 deficiency

Answer: (A)

Chronic inflammation in obesity disrupts iron metabolism. Inflammatory signals, especially IL-6, stimulate the liver to produce more hepcidin. Hepcidin is a key regulator that blocks iron export from cells and reduces iron absorption in the gut. As a result, iron becomes sequestered in storage sites and not readily available for use, leading to iron deficiency even if dietary iron intake is adequate. This is often referred to as functional iron deficiency and can show up with low serum iron and low transferrin saturation, while ferritin may be normal or elevated because ferritin behaves as an acute-phase reactant during inflammation.

Other nutrients listed aren’t driven as directly by this inflammatory pathway in obesity. Vitamin C deficiency isn’t a typical consequence of chronic low-grade inflammation in obesity, and calcium or vitamin B6 deficiencies aren’t primarily caused by the inflammatory processes that characteristically impair iron handling.