The multivariate model explained 16% of the variance of mtDNA copy number by telomere length (β=0.253, p=<0.0001), 3% by current smoking (β=-0.028, p=0.03), 3% by hypertension (β=-0.091, p=0.03), 2% by serum ferritin (β=-0.056, p=0.06), and 1% by waist circumference (β=-0.004, p=0.12) in stepwise multiple regression analysis that included age, BMI, waist circumference, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, hs-CRP, serum ferritin, HOMA-IR, K-MMSE score, GDS-15 score, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, current smoking, alcohol drinking, and regular exercise. The gene discussed is CRP; the disease is metabolic syndrome.