Elevated circulating hippurate is associated with the expression of neuroglobin by the adipose tissue, which has been shown to protect cells from hypoxia and oxidative stress in other tissues (55, 56), Low hippurate levels have also been reported to be unfavorable in inflammatory and microbial-associated conditions, as both Crohn’s disease and obesity are reported to be negatively correlated with hippurate concentration (57–60). Here, NGB is linked to obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.