Metabolic syndrome

Fat infiltration measurement in the right psoas major muscle, which connects the lumbar spine to the femur and is essential for hip flexion. Higher IMF values typically indicate poorer muscle quality.

The Omega-3 Index measures the percentage of EPA and DHA (the two most important omega-3 fatty acids) in red blood cell membranes. It reflects your long-term omega-3 status over the past 3–4 months and is considered one of the most reliable markers of cardiovascular risk related to fatty acid balance. An index above 8% is associated with the lowest cardiovascular risk.

A waste product from the breakdown of purines (found in certain foods and normal cell turnover). Elevated levels can lead to gout (painful joint inflammation) and kidney stones. Persistently high levels may indicate metabolic disorders or reduced kidney clearance.

Fat infiltration measurement in the left psoas major muscle, which connects the lumbar spine to the femur and is essential for hip flexion. Higher IMF values typically indicate poorer muscle quality.

This sum represents all major omega-3 fatty acids (ALA, EPA, DPA, DHA) in the blood.

This ratio compares total omega-6 to total omega-3 fatty acids, reflecting the overall balance of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory lipid mediators.

Linoleic acid is the primary dietary omega-6 fatty acid found in vegetable oils, nuts, and seeds. It is a precursor for arachidonic acid and other signaling lipids.

GLA is an omega-6 fatty acid found in certain plant oils such as evening primrose and borage. It helps maintain a healthy inflammatory balance.

DGLA is a key omega-6 fatty acid formed from GLA. It produces anti-inflammatory prostaglandins and acts as a metabolic balance point between GLA and arachidonic acid.

This ratio compares arachidonic acid (pro-inflammatory omega-6) to eicosapentaenoic acid (anti-inflammatory omega-3).

The TyG index combines fasting triglycerides and glucose to estimate insulin resistance.

Fasting insulin measures baseline insulin levels necessary to maintain normal blood sugar.

The HOMA index estimates insulin resistance using fasting glucose and insulin values.

Fat stored around internal organs within the abdominal cavity. VAT is metabolically active and produces inflammatory cytokines and hormones that affect insulin sensitivity and metabolism. Excessive VAT is strongly linked to metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.

The ratio of visceral adipose tissue to subcutaneous adipose tissue. This measure helps evaluate fat distribution patterns, with higher ratios indicating relatively more visceral fat, which is associated with greater metabolic risk than subcutaneous fat.

The sum of all adipose tissue in the abdominal region, including both visceral and subcutaneous compartments. This measurement provides an overall assessment of abdominal adiposity.

A normalized measure of all abdominal fat (both visceral and subcutaneous) adjusted for height. It's calculated by dividing total abdominal fat volume by the square of height, allowing for standardized comparison between individuals of different body sizes.

Fasting blood glucose measures blood sugar levels after fasting for at least 8 hours. It's used to screen for and monitor diabetes, with elevated levels indicating impaired glucose metabolism.

Abdominal Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue index is the volume of subcutaneous fat in the abdominal region adjusted for height. Like other fat indices, it's normalized by dividing by height squared to enable better comparison between individuals of different body sizes.

Fat stored beneath the skin in the abdominal region. While still contributing to overall adiposity, ASAT is generally considered less metabolically harmful than visceral fat. However, excessive ASAT can still contribute to insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction, albeit to a lesser degree than VAT.

The proportion of abdominal fat relative to total body fat. This measurement helps assess fat distribution patterns, which can be more clinically relevant than total fat alone. Higher abdominal fat ratios are associated with increased metabolic and cardiovascular risks.

NLR reflects the balance between neutrophils which drive early inflammation and lymphocytes which regulate immune control.

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is a blood marker used to detect low levels of inflammation in the body. It is a more precise version of standard CRP testing and is especially useful for assessing cardiovascular risk, as even mild inflammation can contribute to heart disease.

FAI estimates the amount of active testosterone in the blood relative to binding proteins.