Research progress in the correlation between iron metabolism and type 2 diabetes mellitus as well as the regulatory role of glucagon-like peptide-1

Iron metabolism plays a regulatory role in various metabolic diseases, and excessive iron accumulation can increase the risk of metabolic diseases, especially type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Pathological processes such as iron deposition, iron overload, and ferroptosis can activate oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, autophagy, and other processes, promote the amplification of inflammatory reactions and the reduction of antioxidant capacity, gradually decline the function of pancreatic islet β-cells, thereby promoting the occurrence and development of T2DM. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a physiological hormone secreted by intestinal L cells. GLP-1 analogs or GLP-1 receptor agonists can regulate the body's iron metabolism process, inhibit iron deposition, iron overload, and ferroptosis-related inflammatory reactions, promote the proliferation and differentiation of pancreatic islet β-cells, thereby reducing insulin resistance, inhibiting endothelial cell damage, and playing an important role in the prevention and treatmentof T2DM and its complications.