Comparison of Associations between One-Carbon Metabolism, Lipid Metabolism, and Fatty Liver Markers in Normal-Weight and Overweight People Aged 20-40 Years

• Published in: Annals of nutrition and metabolism Vol. 77; no. 4; p. 221
• Main Authors: Młodzik-Czyżewska, Monika A, Szwengiel, Artur, Malinowska, Anna M, Chmurzynska, Agata
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland 01.10.2021
• Subjects: Adult; Betaine; Carbon; Choline; Fatty Liver; Humans; Lipid Metabolism; Overweight - blood; Overweight - diagnosis; Overweight - genetics; Phosphatidylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase; Obesity; Fatty liver; Betaine; Choline; DHRF; PEMT; Folate
• ISSN: 1421-9697
• DOI: 10.1159/000517911

The aim of the present study was to compare biomarkers of one-carbon metabolism (OCM), lipid metabolism, and fatty liver in people with normal and increased body weight. The study was performed on 421 participants, aged 20-40 years, enrolled in Poznan, Poland, in 2016-2018. Choline and betaine intakes were assessed. DNA samples were genotyped for polymorphisms of phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PEMT; rs7946 and rs12325817), methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR; rs180113), methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (MTHFD1; rs2236225), and dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR; rs70991108). To assess the associations between blood metabolites (choline, betaine, folate, L-carnitine, o-acetyl-L-carnitine, and trimethylamine N-oxide]), circulating lipids, and fatty liver indices, multiple logistic regression analyses were performed. Overweight/obese participants had 5.8% higher choline (p < 0.05) and 10% higher L-carnitine (p < 0.001) levels than normal-weight subjects. Serum folate and betaine levels were associated with lower total cholesterol (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively), triacylglycerols (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001), and triglyceride glucose index (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively), though only in overweight/obese people. The PEMT rs12325817 CC genotype was associated with higher levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (p < 0.01) in overweight/obese people. The associations between OCM markers, fatty liver indices, and blood lipids differ in subjects with normal and excessive body weight.