Volume 30, Issue 169, March 2026

A review of the literature on viral infections and the development of chronic metabolic diseases

Michał Grabek^1♦, Maja Kondratowicz², Kamila Kałamarz³, Kinga Żmuda⁴, Maciej Świerczyna⁵, Maja Czerniachowska⁶, Marcin Kaniewski⁷, Martyna Wojnowska⁸, Wiktoria Polkowska⁹, Aleksandra Figzał¹⁰

¹Karol Marcinkowski University Hospital, Zyty 26, 65-046 Zielona Góra, Poland
²The Independent Public Hospital No. 4, Lublin, Poland Doktora Kazimierza Jaczewskiego 8, 20-954 Lublin, Poland
³Karol Marcinkowski University Hospital, Zyty 26, 65-046 Zielona Góra, Poland
⁴University Clinical Hospital of Opole al.W.Witosa 26 45-401 Opole , Poland
⁵Ministry of the Interior and Administration Hospital, Północna 42, 91-425 Łódź, Poland
⁶Medical University of Łódź, al. Kościuszki 4, 90-419 Łódź, Poland
⁷The Independent Public Hospital No. 4, Lublin, Poland Doktora Kazimierza Jaczewskiego 8, 20-954 Lublin, Poland
⁸Mikolaj Pirogov Provincial Specialist Hospital, Wólczańska 191/195, 90-001 Łódź, Poland
⁹Central Clinical Hospital, Medical University of Łódź, Pomorska 251, 90-213 Łódź, Poland
¹⁰Karol Marcinkowski University Hospital, Zyty 26, 65-046 Zielona Góra, Poland

^♦Corresponding author
Michał Grabek, Karol Marcinkowski University Hospital, Zyty 26, 65-046 Zielona Góra, Poland

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Viruses often trigger chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and NAFLD by disrupting metabolism. The present review examines recent evidence on how viral pathogens alter the body's energy processing mechanisms and the subsequent impact on host metabolism. Results: These changes help the virus to replicate and disrupt metabolic finding a balance can be good for your health, but it can also cause health problems. It is clear that viruses such SARS-CoV-2 and hepatitis C show how glucose (sugar) and fat can be processed by the body. It should be regulated in the same way as other things. Viral infections like HIV can make the keep the immune system active for a healthy state. Concurrently, treatment-related adverse effects may also be present. Evidently, there is a bidirectional relationship between viral infection and metabolic disease. This means that people with pre-existing metabolic conditions are more at risk of severe illness from viral infections, and these illnesses can be more aggressive due to underlying metabolic problems. Understanding the immune and metabolic systems is vital for understanding chronic metabolic diseases. Early recognition and treatment are pivotal. This could have favourable outcomes.

Keywords: Viral infections, Metabolic diseases; Metabolic reprogramming; Insulin resistance; Chronic inflammation; SARS-CoV-2; Hepatitis C virus; Immune dysregulation; Viral mimicry, Glucose metabolism

Medical Science, 2026, 30, e50ms3798

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v30i169.e50ms3798

Published: 07 March 2026