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Exploring the Immunological Shield Hypothesis: A Population-Based Exploration of Phenotypic Divergence Between Lipedema and Celiac Disease Autoimmunity
Resource type
Authors/contributors
- Amato, Alexandre C. (Author)
- Amato, Juliana L. (Author)
- Benitti, Daniel (Author)
- Amato, Alexandre C. (Author)
- Amato, Juliana L. (Author)
- Benitti, Daniel (Author)
Title
Exploring the Immunological Shield Hypothesis: A Population-Based Exploration of Phenotypic Divergence Between Lipedema and Celiac Disease Autoimmunity
Abstract
Background
Lipedema is characterized by disproportionate gluteofemoral adiposity with anti-inflammatory properties. We hypothesized that this phenotype may confer immunological protection against T-helper 1 (Th1)-mediated autoimmunity ("Immunological Shield Hypothesis").
Objective
The objective of this study is to explore whether women with a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)-defined lipedema-like phenotype, characterized by disproportionate gluteofemoral fat accumulation, exhibit distinct immunometabolic profiles and lower prevalence of celiac disease (CD) autoimmunity in a nationally representative sample.
Methods
The cross-sectional analysis included 3,833 women from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2014. Celiac disease (n=11, 0.56% weighted prevalence) was defined by strict serology (tissue transglutaminase {tTG}-IgA+/endomysial antibody {EMA}-IgA+); lipedema phenotype was defined as leg-to-trunk fat ratio of >90th percentile via DXA.
Results
Women with celiac disease exhibited 7.4% lower gynoid fat (39.5% versus 42.6%, p=0.0007), persisting in overweight/obese strata. Conversely, the lipedema phenotype demonstrated superior metabolic health: 44.2% lower homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (p<0.001) and 7.6% lower neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (p=0.012).
Conclusions
This exploratory population-based analysis identifies phenotypic divergence in fat distribution between the DXA-defined lipedema phenotype and celiac disease autoimmunity, yielding observations consistent with, but not confirmatory of, the "Immunological Shield Hypothesis." While limited by the small number of celiac cases (n=11), a sample size insufficient to detect prevalence differences for a ~7%-9% phenotype, for which approximately 225-600 celiac cases would be required, the observed differences in gynoid adiposity (7.4% reduction, p=0.0007) and the favorable metabolic profile of the lipedema phenotype (44.2% lower HOMA-IR and 7.6% lower NLR) suggest biological plausibility warranting validation in larger, targeted cohorts. These findings motivate targeted studies to evaluate whether dietary exposures, including gluten-related immune activation, interact with gluteofemoral adipose biology in lipedema.
Publication
Cureus
Publisher
Cureus
Date
2026/02/25
Volume
18
Accessed
2/27/26, 2:00 AM
ISSN
2168-8184
Short Title
Exploring the Immunological Shield Hypothesis
Language
en
Library Catalog
Citation
Amato, A. C., Amato, J. L., Benitti, D., Amato, A. C., Amato, J. L., & Benitti, D. (2026). Exploring the Immunological Shield Hypothesis: A Population-Based Exploration of Phenotypic Divergence Between Lipedema and Celiac Disease Autoimmunity. Cureus, 18. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.104222
Topic
Publication
Remark
The Lipedema Foundation LEGATO Lipedema Library is not currently in possession of this resource.
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