Higher intake of fish and fat is associated with lower plasma s-adenosylhomocysteine: a cross-sectional study
Mads V. Lind, Lotte Lauritzen, Oluf Pedersen, Henrik Vestergaard, Ken
D. Stark, Torben Hansen, Alastair B. Ross, Mette Kristensen
Abstract
Several B-vitamins act as co-factors in one-carbon metabolism, a pathway that plays a central role in several chronic diseases. However, there is a lack of knowledge of how diet affects markers in one-carbon metabolism. The aim of this study was to explore dietary patterns and components associated with one-carbon metabolites. We hypothesized that intake of whole-grains and fish would be associated with lower Hcy, and higher SAM:SAH ratio due to their nutrient content. We assessed dietary information using a four-day dietary record in 118 men and women with features of the metabolic syndrome. In addition we assessed whole-blood fatty acid composition and plasma alkylresorcinols. Plasma s-adenosylmethionine (SAM), s-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), homocysteine (Hcy) and vitamin B12 was included as one-carbon metabolism markers. We used principal component analysis (PCA) to explore dietary patterns and multiple linear regression models to examine associations between dietary factors and one-carbon metabolites. PCA separated subjects based on prudent and unhealthy dietary patterns, but the dietary pattern score was not related to the one-carbon metabolites. Whole grain intake was found to be inversely associated to plasma Hcy (−4.7% (−9.3; 0.0), p=0.05) and total grain intake tended to be positively associated with SAM and SAH (2.4% (−0.5; 5.5), p=0.08; 5.8% (−0.2; 12.1), p=0.06, respectively, per SD increase in cereal intake). Fish intake was inversely associated with plasma Hcy and SAH concentrations (−5.4% (−9.7; −0.8), p=0.02 & -7.0% (−12.1; −1.5), p=0.01, respectively) and positively associated with the SAM:SAH ratio (6.2% (1.6; 11.0), p=0.008). In conclusion, intake and fish and whole-grain appears to be associated with a beneficial one-carbon metabolism profile. This indicates that dietary components could play a role in regulation of one-carbon metabolism with a potential impact on disease prevention.
Nutr Res 46:78-87. 2017 (doi.org/10.1016/j.nutres.2017.09.008)