Dietary habits and plasma lipid concentrations in a general Japanese population

Metabolomics. 2024 Mar 5;20(2):34. doi: 10.1007/s11306-024-02087-1.

Abstract

Introduction: Accumulating data on the associations between food consumption and lipid composition in the body is essential for understanding the effects of dietary habits on health.

Objectives: As part of omics research in the Tohoku Medical Megabank Community-Based Cohort Study, this study sought to reveal the dietary impact on plasma lipid concentration in a Japanese population.

Methods: We conducted a correlation analysis of food consumption and plasma lipid concentrations measured using mass spectrometry, for 4032 participants in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.

Results: Our analysis revealed 83 marked correlations between six food categories and the concentrations of plasma lipids in nine subclasses. Previously reported associations, including those between seafood consumption and omega-3 fatty acids, were validated, while those between dairy product consumption and odd-carbon-number fatty acids (odd-FAs) were validated for the first time in an Asian population. Further analysis suggested that dairy product consumption is associated with odd-FAs via sphingomyelin (SM), which suggests that SM is a carrier of odd-FAs. These results are important for understanding odd-FA metabolism with regards to dairy product consumption.

Conclusion: This study provides insight into the dietary impact on plasma lipid concentration in a Japanese population.

Keywords: Dairy intake; Dietary lipids; Hydroxy fatty acid; Metabolomics; Odd-chain fatty acids; Omega-3 fatty acids; Plasma lipids; Seafood intake; Sphingomyelin.

MeSH terms

  • Cohort Studies
  • Fatty Acids
  • Feeding Behavior*
  • Humans
  • Japan
  • Metabolomics*
  • Sphingomyelins

Substances

  • Fatty Acids
  • Sphingomyelins