Plasma glycerophospholipid profile, erythrocyte n-3 PUFAs, and metabolic syndrome incidence: a prospective study in Chinese men and women

Shuangshuang Chen; Qingqing Wu; Li Zhu; Geng Zong; Huaixing Li; He Zheng; Rong Zeng; Xu Lin; Liang Sun

doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqab050

Plasma glycerophospholipid profile, erythrocyte n-3 PUFAs, and metabolic syndrome incidence: a prospective study in Chinese men and women

Am J Clin Nutr. 2021 Jul 1;114(1):143-153. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqab050.

Authors

Shuangshuang Chen¹, Qingqing Wu², Li Zhu², Geng Zong¹, Huaixing Li¹, He Zheng¹, Rong Zeng^{2

3}, Xu Lin^{3

4}, Liang Sun¹

Affiliations

¹ CAS Key Laboratory of Nutrition, Metabolism and Food Safety, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
² Key Laboratory of Systems Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Systems Biology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China.
⁴ Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.

PMID: 33829226
DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/nqab050

Abstract

Background: Animal studies have highlighted critical roles of glycerophospholipid (GP) metabolism in various metabolic syndrome (MetS)-related features such as dyslipidemia, obesity, and insulin resistance. However, human prospective studies of associations between circulating GPs and risks of MetS are scarce.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate whether GPs are associated with incidence of MetS in a well-established cohort.

Methods: A total of 1243 community-dwelling Chinese aged 50-70 y without MetS at baseline and followed up for 6 y were included in current analyses. A total of 145 plasma GPs were quantified by high-throughput targeted lipidomics. MetS was defined using the updated National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria for Asian Americans.

Results: After 6 y, 429 participants developed MetS. Eleven GPs, especially those with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) or very-long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLCPUFAs) at the sn-2 position, including 1 phosphatidylcholine (PC) [PC(18:0/22:6)], 9 phosphatidylethanolamines (PEs) [PE(16:0/22:6), PE(18:0/14:0), PE(18:0/18:1), PE(18:0/18:2), PE(18:0/20:3), PE(18:0/22:5), PE(18:0/22:6), PE(18:1/22:6), and PE(18:2/22:6)], and 1 phosphatidylserine (PS) [PS(18:0/18:0)], were positively associated with incident MetS (RRs: 1.16-1.30 per SD change; Bonferroni-corrected P < 0.05). In network analysis, the strongest positive association for MetS incidence was evidenced in a module mainly composed of PEs containing C22:6 and PSs [RR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.31 per SD change; Bonferroni-corrected P < 0.05]. This association was more pronounced in participants with lower erythrocyte total n-3 PUFA concentrations [Bonferroni-corrected Pinter(P value for the interaction)< 0.05].

Conclusions: Elevated plasma concentrations of GPs, especially PEs with LCPUFAs or VLCPUFAs at the sn-2 position, are associated with higher risk of incident MetS. Future studies are merited to confirm our findings.

Keywords: biomarker; glycerophospholipid; lipidomics; metabolic syndrome; n–3 PUFAs; prospective study.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Asian People
China / epidemiology
Erythrocytes / chemistry*
Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / chemistry*
Female
Glycerophospholipids / blood*
Humans
Male
Metabolic Syndrome / blood
Metabolic Syndrome / epidemiology*
Middle Aged
Prospective Studies

Substances

Fatty Acids, Omega-3
Glycerophospholipids