Association Between Adiposity and Low Total Serum Bilirubin Concentration: A Retrospective, Cross-Sectional Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Bilirubin, an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, has been shown to negatively correlate with adiposity. However, the extent to which adiposity level influences total bilirubin (TBili) concentration remains unclear. We sought to evaluate the associations of body mass index (BMI; kg/m²) and waist circumference (WC) with low TBili concentration.

Methods

We included adults ≥ 20 years of age without elevated liver enzymes, excess alcohol use, iron overload, anemia, TBili ≥ 1.2 mg/dL, low albumin, or positive hepatitis serology from the 1999-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The primary outcome was low TBili, defined as < 0.4 mg/dL. We used multivariable logistic regression to determine the odds ratios of low TBili by BMI and WC categ

SUBMITTER: Parikh T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12745926 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature