HP and serum lipopolysaccharide activity: Accordingly, circulating zonulin and biomarkers of endotoxemia (LPS and LPS-binding protein) have been reported to be elevated in patients with CHD [6] and type 2 diabetes [7], and to be associated with insulin resistance [7, 9, 10, 11], dyslipidemia [7], inflammation [7, 9, 11], as well as with higher waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure, fasting glucose and increased risk of metabolic diseases [12].