Serum total bilirubin concentrations are inversely associated with total white blood cell counts in an adult population.

BACKGROUND

Several studies have shown that serum bilirubin has a protective effect against cardiovascular disease and that inflammation plays an important role in its pathogenesis. This cross-sectional study investigated whether there was an association between blood total white blood cell count, a simple indicator of inflammation, and serum total bilirubin concentration in a cohort of an adult population in Taiwan.

METHODS

A total of 2458 apparently healthy adults (1246 men and 1212 women) who attended health examination at a medical centre in central Taiwan were enrolled. We collected anthropometric measurements, fasting blood test results, lifestyle habits and medical history.

RESULTS

Total white blood cell counts decreased progressively when the concentrations of total bilirubin increased as demonstrated in the total bilirubin quartiles. Both total bilirubin concentrations and total white blood cell counts showed significant correlations with the components of metabolic syndrome, including triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that, for both genders, total bilirubin showed an independent negative correlation with total white blood cell count after adjusting for conventional cardiovascular risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher serum total bilirubin concentrations within the reference range were associated with lower blood total white blood cell counts, regardless of other classical cardiovascular risk factors.