Objectives This study investigated the relationship between metabolic factors (blood lipids and glucose) and inflammatory indicators (tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α] and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP]), disease activity, and the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) risk.
Methods Serum fasting blood glucose (FBG) and lipid profiles—including total cholesterol (Chol), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein—were measured in 100 RA patients and 100 healthy individuals. Disease severity was assessed using the disease activity score 28. Inflammatory indicators (TNF-α and hs-CRP) were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method.
Results In RA patients, serum FBG, TG, Chol/HDL, and TG/HDL were significantly elevated, whereas HDL levels reduced compared to healthy individuals. Multivariate analysis indicated that each unit increase in serum FBG, HDL, Chol/HDL, and TG/HDL was associated with a 64% increase (p<0.001), a 7% reduction (p=0.001), a 52% increase (p=0.007), and a 54% increase (p=0.001) in the odds of RA, respectively. Disease activity showed no correlation with metabolic factors (p>0.05). Among all metabolic factors studied, FBG had the largest area under the curve (0.981) (p<0.0001) for predicting RA. Across the total participant group, FBG, TG, and TG/HDL were positively associated with hs-CRP and TNF-α (p<0.05). HDL showed an inverse association with hs-CRP (p=0.008). Among RA patients specifically, TNF-α positively correlated with TG and TG/HDL, while hs-CRP correlated only with TG/HDL.
Conclusion These findings indicate that increased FBG and Chol/HDL and decreased HDL may elevate RA risk by promoting systemic inflammation. Among these, elevated FBG may serve as the strongest predictor of RA risk.
Citations
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Roles of immune cell metabolism in rheumatoid arthritis Rui Xie, Zeping Chen, Shufang Deng, Xiaofeng Jiang, Yue Feng, Wei Zhao Frontiers in Immunology.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
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Coronaviruses, which have been known to cause diseases in animals since the 1930s, utilize cellular components during their replication cycle. Lipids play important roles in viral infection, as coronaviruses target cellular lipids and lipid metabolism to modify their host cells to become an optimal environment for viral replication. Therefore, lipids can be considered as potential targets for the development of antiviral agents. This review provides an overview of the roles of cellular lipids in different stages of the life cycle of coronaviruses.
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<sec>
<title>Objectives</title>
<p>Different factors are responsible for the silent epidemic of diabetes mellitus in developing and developed countries. This study aimed to determine the role of demographic factors, lipid profile, family history (the estimation of genetic association) and anthropometric factors on diabetes onset.</p></sec>
<sec>
<title>Methods</title>
<p>Data from the enrolment phase of the Tabari Cohort study was applied for this study and included 10,255 participants aged between 35–70 years. Anthropometric variables were measured by trained staff using standard tools. Blood specimens were collected for lipid profile and blood glucose measurements. Data analyses were performed using SPSS version 24, with univariate and multivariate logistic regression.</p></sec>
<sec>
<title>Results</title>
<p>The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was estimated to be 17.2% in the cohort population, 15.6% in men, and 18.3% in women. The adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for age groups 40–49, 50–59 and over 60 were 2.58 (2.20–3.69), 5.80 (4.51–7.48) and 8.72 (6.67–11.39), respectively. In addition, the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for 2 (or more), and 1 affected family member were 4.12 (3.55–4.90) and 2.34 (2.07–2.65), respectively. Triglyceride concentrations more than 500, and abnormal high-density lipoprotein levels increased the odds of diabetes mellitus by 3.29- and 1.18-fold, respectively.</p></sec>
<sec>
<title>Conclusion</title>
<p>The current study showed that old age and a family history were strong predictors for diabetes mellitus.</p></sec>
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