Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 21, 2025

Lipid Droplet Isolation for Quantitative Mass Spectrometry Analysis
10:23

Lipid Droplet Isolation for Quantitative Mass Spectrometry Analysis

Published on: April 17, 2017

10.5K

Hypolipidemia is associated with the severity of COVID-19

Xiuqi Wei1, Wenjuan Zeng2, Jingyu Su1

  • 1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China.

Journal of Clinical Lipidology
|May 21, 2020
PubMed

Insights

COVID-19 patients experienced lower lipid levels, including low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and total cholesterol (TC). This hypolipidemia worsened with increasing disease severity, indicating a link between COVID-19 and lipid metabolism changes.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Research
  • Biochemistry
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is known to cause multiple organ dysfunctions.
  • The impact of COVID-19 on patient lipid profiles, specifically dyslipidemia, remains largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate alterations in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), and total cholesterol (TC) in COVID-19 patients.
  • To determine the relationship between these lipid profile changes and COVID-19 disease severity.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective study analyzed serum lipid levels (LDL-c, HDL-c, TC) in 597 hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
  • Patients were categorized into mild, severe, and critical groups.
  • A control group of 50 healthy individuals with matched age and gender was included for comparison.

Main Results:

  • COVID-19 patients exhibited significantly lower LDL-c and TC levels compared to healthy controls.
  • A progressive decrease in LDL-c and TC levels was observed across mild, severe, and critical COVID-19 cases.
  • HDL-c levels significantly decreased only in critical COVID-19 cases.
  • Lower lipid levels correlated inversely with C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, and positively with lymphocyte count.

Conclusions:

  • Hypolipidemia, characterized by reduced lipid levels, is present even in mild COVID-19 cases.
  • The severity of hypolipidemia in COVID-19 patients correlates with the overall severity of the disease.
Abstract

Keywords:
COVID-19CholesterolHDL-cLDL-cSARS-COV-2

More Related Videos

Cell-free Biochemical Fluorometric Enzymatic Assay for High-throughput Measurement of Lipid Peroxidation in High Density Lipoprotein07:29

Cell-free Biochemical Fluorometric Enzymatic Assay for High-throughput Measurement of Lipid Peroxidation in High Density Lipoprotein

Published on: October 12, 2017

9.6K

Related Concept Videos

Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System III: Serum Lipid Profile01:25

Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System III: Serum Lipid Profile

Understanding serum lipids is crucial for maintaining cardiovascular health and preventing heart disease and stroke.
Serum lipids are fats and fatty substances in the blood and are crucial for various bodily functions, including energy storage, cellular structure, and hormone production. Serum lipids consist of cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids.
Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like substance found in all body cells. It is crucial for producing hormones, vitamin D, and substances that aid...
497
Lipid-Lowering Drugs: Statins and Miscellaneous Agents01:20

Lipid-Lowering Drugs: Statins and Miscellaneous Agents

Hyperlipidemia, a medical condition often referred to as high cholesterol, is characterized by abnormally elevated levels of lipids in the bloodstream. When present in excess, these lipids, specifically cholesterol and triglycerides, can lead to serious health complications, often involving cardiovascular diseases. Illnesses like atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and pancreatitis have all been linked to untreated hyperlipidemia. This means controlling and regulating cholesterol and triglyceride...
1.2K
Lipids: Dietary Sources and Requirements01:18

Lipids: Dietary Sources and Requirements

Lipids are an essential component of a balanced human diet. Triglycerides, which make up the majority of dietary lipids, are found in both saturated fats—commonly present in meat, dairy products, and certain tropical plants like coconut, and hydrogenated oils such as margarine and baking shortenings (trans fats)—and unsaturated fats, which are abundant in seeds, nuts, olive oil, and most vegetable oils. The main sources of cholesterol include egg yolks, various meats and organ...
1.7K
Lipid Absorption01:24

Lipid Absorption

Dietary triglycerides from chyme in the duodenum are mixed with bile salts produced by the liver to emulsify fats. As a result, large droplets are broken down into smaller ones, increasing the surface area for enzymatic action. Once emulsified, pancreatic lipases hydrolyze the triglycerides into free fatty acids and monoglycerides.
These breakdown products bind with bile salts and lecithin to form micelles, which quickly pass between microvilli to come in close contact with the apical...
2.3K
Overview of Lipid Metabolism01:24

Overview of Lipid Metabolism

Lipid metabolism is a crucial process in the human body that involves the synthesis and degradation of lipids. This process is essential for energy production, cell membrane formation, and hormone production, among other functions.
Lipolysis: The Breakdown of Lipids:
Lipolysis is the process of breaking down lipids, particularly triglycerides, into glycerol and fatty acids. This process typically occurs in the adipose tissue and is triggered by various hormones, including glucagon and...
4.4K
Lipid Catabolism01:25

Lipid Catabolism

Triglycerides serve as crucial long-term energy storage molecules in microorganisms, providing a dense source of metabolic energy. Their breakdown is mediated by lipases, which hydrolyze triglycerides into glycerol and free fatty acids. Each of these components follows distinct metabolic pathways, ultimately contributing to ATP synthesis and cellular energy homeostasis.Glycerol MetabolismGlycerol, released from triglyceride hydrolysis, is phosphorylated by glycerol kinase to form...
705