Glossary

A

ApoB

ApoB, or apolipoprotein B, is a structural protein found one copy per major atherogenic lipoprotein particle in circulation.

B

Bone Mineral Density

Bone mineral density is a measurement of mineral content projected over a defined area of bone, commonly obtained with DEXA.

C

Coronary Artery Calcium Score

A coronary artery calcium score is a number derived from a CT scan that estimates the amount of calcified plaque in the coronary arteries.

D

DNA Methylation

DNA methylation is a chemical marking process in which methyl groups are added to DNA, often influencing how genomic regions are regulated.

Dysbiosis

Dysbiosis is a broad descriptive term for a microbial community pattern considered disrupted relative to a chosen reference or functional context.

F

Fasting Insulin

Fasting insulin is the concentration of insulin measured in blood after a defined period without caloric intake.

H

HbA1c

HbA1c is the proportion of haemoglobin with glucose attached, used as an integrated marker of recent blood-glucose exposure.

Heart Rate Variability

Heart rate variability is the variation in time between consecutive heartbeats rather than the number of beats per minute.

HOMA-IR

HOMA-IR is a calculated index that uses fasting glucose and fasting insulin as a model-based estimate related to insulin resistance.

hs-CRP

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein, or hs-CRP, is a blood measurement capable of detecting relatively low concentrations of an inflammation-associated protein.

L

Lipoprotein(a)

Lipoprotein(a), abbreviated Lp(a), is an ApoB-containing lipoprotein particle with an additional apolipoprotein(a) component attached.

S

Short-Chain Fatty Acids

Short-chain fatty acids are small fatty acids, including acetate, propionate, and butyrate, produced through microbial and host metabolic processes.

Single Nucleotide Polymorphism

A single nucleotide polymorphism is a common DNA-sequence variation at one nucleotide position within a population.

T

Telomere

A telomere is a repeated DNA-protein structure at the end of a chromosome that helps maintain chromosome-end integrity.

V

Visceral Adipose Tissue

Visceral adipose tissue is fat stored within the abdominal cavity around internal organs, distinct from fat beneath the skin.