Serum total bilirubin levels are negatively correlated with metabolic syndrome in aged Chinese women: a community-based study

We evaluated serum total bilirubin levels as a predictor for metabolic syndrome (MetS) and investigated the relationship between serum total bilirubin levels and MetS prevalence. This cross-sectional study included 1728 participants over 65 years of age from Eastern China. Anthropometric data, lifestyle information, and previous medical history were collected. We then measured serum levels of fasting blood-glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and total bilirubin, as well as alanine aminotransferase activity. The prevalence of MetS and each of its individual component were calculated per quartile of total bilirubin level. Logistic regression was used to assess the correlation between serum total bilirubin levels and MetS. Total bilirubin level in the women who did not have MetS was significantly higher than in those who had MetS (P<0.001). Serum total bilirubin quartiles were linearly and negatively correlated with MetS prevalence and hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) in females (P<0.005). Logistic regression showed that serum total bilirubin was an independent predictor of MetS for females (OR: 0.910, 95%CI: 0.863–0.960; P=0.001). The present study suggests that physiological levels of serum total bilirubin might be an independent risk factor for aged Chinese women, and the prevalence of MetS and HTG are negatively correlated to serum total bilirubin levels.

本研究以血清总胆红素水平作为代谢综合征（Metabolic Syndrome, MetS）的预测指标，探讨血清总胆红素水平与代谢综合征患病率的关联。本项横断面研究纳入了来自中国东部的1728名65岁以上受试者，收集其人体测量学数据、生活方式信息及既往病史资料。随后检测了受试者的空腹血糖、总胆固醇、甘油三酯、血清总胆红素水平，以及丙氨酸氨基转移酶活性。按血清总胆红素水平的四分位数分层，计算代谢综合征及其各组分的患病率。采用Logistic回归分析评估血清总胆红素水平与代谢综合征的相关性。结果显示，未患代谢综合征的女性受试者血清总胆红素水平显著高于患病女性（P<0.001）。女性受试者中，血清总胆红素四分位数水平与代谢综合征患病率及高甘油三酯血症（Hypertriglyceridemia, HTG）呈线性负相关（P<0.005）。Logistic回归分析表明，血清总胆红素是女性受试者代谢综合征的独立预测指标（优势比OR=0.910，95%置信区间CI：0.863~0.960；P=0.001）。本研究提示，血清总胆红素的生理水平可能是中国老年女性罹患代谢综合征的独立危险因素，且代谢综合征与高甘油三酯血症的患病率与血清总胆红素水平呈负相关。