biostudies-literatureZhao CCthe Translational Medicine National Key Science and Technology Infrastructure Open Projectthe National Key Research and Development PlanNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaShanghai Research Center for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseasesthe Exploratory Clinical Research Project of Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital105https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10197852biostudies-literatureUnknown15(1)<h4>Background</h4>Bilirubin has been found to protect against overt atherosclerotic diseases, but to date, few studies have investigated the effects of bilirubin especially within the normal range on lower limb atherosclerosis. Therefore, we aimed to assess the associations of bilirubin within normal limits including total bilirubin (TB), conjugated bilirubin (CB) and unconjugated bilirubin (UCB) with lower limb atherosclerosis in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).<h4>Methods</h4>7284 T2DM patients with normal levels of serum bilirubin were included in this cross-sectional, real-world study. Patients were divided into quintiles by TB levels (< 8.7, 8.7-10.19, 10.20-11.99, 12-13.99, > 13.99 µmol/L). Lower limb ultrasonography was conducted to detect lower limb plaque anDiabetology & metabolic syndromeHigh-normal serum bilirubin decreased the risk of lower limb atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes: a real-world study.PMC10197852821008762018YFC13149058117075981502316ynts2021052022ZZ01002TMSK-2021-116Li LXLi MFChen MYZhao CCWang JWKe JFfalseHigh-normal serum bilirubin decreased the risk of lower limb atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes: a real-world study.<h4>Background</h4>Bilirubin has been found to protect against overt atherosclerotic diseases, but to date, few studies have investigated the effects of bilirubin especially within the normal range on lower limb atherosclerosis. Therefore, we aimed to assess the associations of bilirubin within normal limits including total bilirubin (TB), conjugated bilirubin (CB) and unconjugated bilirubin (UCB) with lower limb atherosclerosis in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).<h4>Methods</h4>7284 T2DM patients with normal levels of serum bilirubin were included in this cross-sectional, real-world study. Patients were divided into quintiles by TB levels (< 8.7, 8.7-10.19, 10.20-11.99, 12-13.99, > 13.99 µmol/L). Lower limb ultrasonography was conducted to detect lower limb plaque an2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 May2025-04-26T17:27:15.096Z2025-04-06T15:29:09.127ZS-EPMC101978523720870310.1186/s13098-023-01088-9