LB001 - GUT BARRIER MARKERS AND CARDIOMETABOLIC RISK AMONG METABOLICALLY HEALTHY OBESE ARAB WOMEN: AN EXPLORATORY ANALYSIS

LB001

GUT BARRIER MARKERS AND CARDIOMETABOLIC RISK AMONG METABOLICALLY HEALTHY OBESE ARAB WOMEN: AN EXPLORATORY ANALYSIS

 

D. A. Aldisi¹, S. Sabico², T. Basaaed¹, A. Alfarraj^3,*

¹Community Health Departments , ²Biochemistry, ³King Saud University , Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

 

Rationale: Metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) is a prevalent yet poorly understood phenotype in Arab populations. Despite the absence of overt cardiometabolic disorders, early markers of gut barrier dysfunction may signal hidden metabolic risk. This study investigates the associations between gut barrier markers and metabolic indices in MHO Saudi women, aiming to uncover early predictors of metabolic disturbance.

Methods:  In this cross-sectional study, 100 obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²) Saudi women aged 18–40 were classified as MHO if presenting with ≤2 metabolic syndrome (MetS) components. Anthropometric measurements, fasting blood biochemistry, and glycemic indices (glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, HOMA-β) were collected. Serum levels of cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14), fatty acid-binding protein 2 (FABP2), and endotoxin were measured using ELISA. Pearson correlations and stepwise linear regressions were performed to assess associations between gut barrier markers and metabolic variables (significance: p < 0.05).

Results: In this cross-sectional study, 100 obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²) Saudi women aged 18–40 were classified as MHO if presenting with ≤2 metabolic syndrome (MetS) components. Anthropometric measurements, fasting blood biochemistry, and glycemic indices (glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, HOMA-β) were collected. Serum levels of cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14), fatty acid-binding protein 2 (FABP2), and endotoxin were measured using ELISA. Pearson correlations and stepwise linear regressions were performed to assess associations between gut barrier markers and metabolic variables (significance: p < 0.05).

Conclusion: CD14 and FABP2 are significantly associated with insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism in MHO women, suggesting early subclinical metabolic risk. These gut barrier markers may serve as useful screening tools in seemingly healthy obese populations. Prospective studies are warranted to assess causal pathways and therapeutic implications in ethnically distinct groups.

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Disclosure of Interest: None declared