Early Biomarkers of Metabolic Disorders
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Abstract
Metabolic disorders develop through interacting abnormalities in glucose regulation, lipid handling, adipose tissue function, hepatic metabolism, inflammation, and vascular physiology. Biomarkers may identify risk before overt disease, but their clinical value depends on analytical reliability, prospective prediction, and evidence that the result changes management. This review distinguishes established screening markers from emerging candidates for early metabolic dysfunction. Routine measures such as waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, glycated haemoglobin, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol remain central because they are standardized, inexpensive, and linked to outcomes. Fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, liver enzymes, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, adipokines, metabolomic signatures, and continuous glucose metrics may reveal earlier biology, yet many lack universal thresholds or incremental clinical utility. A tiered strategy should begin with phenotype and validated laboratory tests, then reserve novel biomarkers for selected clinical or research contexts. Biomarkers support, but do not replace, clinical assessment.
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