One-carbon metabolism markers are associated with
cardiometabolic risk factors
M.V. Lind, L. Lauritzen, H. Vestergaard, T. Hansen, O. Pedersen, M. Kristensen, A.B. Ross
Abstract
Background and aims: Alterations to one-carbon metabolism, especially elevated
plasma homocysteine (Hcy), have been suggested to be both a cause and a consequence of the
metabolic syndrome (MS). A deeper understanding of the role of other one-carbon metabolites
in MS, including s-adenosylmethionine (SAM), s-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), and the methylation
capacity index (SAM:SAH ratio) is required.
Methods and results: 118 men and women with MS-risk factors were included in this cross-sectional
study and cardiometabolic outcomes along with markers of one-carbon metabolism,
including fasting plasma SAM, SAH, Hcy and vitamin B12 concentrations, were analysed. Multiple
linear regression models were also used to examine the association between plasma one-carbon
metabolites and cardiometabolic health features.
We found that fasting plasma concentrations of Hcy, SAM and SAH were all positively correlated
with markers of adiposity, including BMI (increase in BMI per 1-SD increase in one-carbon
metabolite: 0.92 kg/m2 95% CI (0.28; 1.56), p Z 0.005; 0.81 (0.15; 1.47), p Z 0.02; 0.67 (0.01;
1.36), p Z 0.05, respectively). Hcy, but not SAM, SAH or SAM:SAH ratio was associated with BMI
and body fat percentage after mutual adjustments. SAM concentrations were associated with
higher fasting insulin (9.5% 95% CI (0.3; 19.5) per SD increase in SAM, p Z 0.04), HOMA-IR
(10.8% (0.8; 21.9), p Z 0.03) and TNF-a (11.8% (5.0; 19.0), p < 0.001).
Conclusion: We found little evidence for associations between SAM:SAH ratio and cardiometabolic
variables, but higher plasma concentrations of SAM, SAH and Hcy are related to an overall
higher risk of metabolic dysfunctions.
Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases (2018) 28, 402e410 doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2018.01.005