Healthy Nordic diet and associations with plasma concentrations of metabolites in the choline oxidation pathway: a cross-sectional study from Northern Sweden

• BackgroundThe choline oxidation pathway and metabolites involved have been linked to diseases including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer. A healthy Nordic diet is a recently defined dietary pattern associated with decreased risk for these diseases. Our aim was to explore associations between adherence to a healthy Nordic diet and plasma concentrations of metabolites of the choline oxidation pathway.MethodsThe Healthy Nordic Food Index (HNFI) and Baltic Sea Diet Score (BSDS) were applied to cross-sectional data (n = 969) from the Vasterbotten Intervention Programme in Northern Sweden to score adherence to a healthy Nordic diet. Data included responses to a dietary questionnaire and blood sample analyses (1991-2008). Associations of diet scores with plasma concentrations of metabolites of the choline oxidation pathway and total homocysteine (tHcy), seven metabolites in total, were evaluated with linear regression, adjusting for age, BMI, education and physical activity.ResultsHNFI scores showed linear relationships with plasma choline (beta = 0.11), betaine (beta = 0.46), serine (beta = 0.98) and tHcy (beta = - 0.38), and BSDS scores with betaine (beta = 0.13) and tHcy (beta = - 0.13); unstandardized beta coefficients, all significant at P < 0.05. The regression models predicted changes in plasma metabolite concentrations (+/- 1 SD changes in diet score) in the range of 1-5% for choline, betaine, serine and tHcy. No other statistically significant associations were observed.ConclusionsA healthy Nordic diet was associated with plasma concentrations of several metabolites of the choline oxidation pathway. Although relationships were statistically significant, effect sizes were moderate. Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms and associations with health outcomes.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Näringslära (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nutrition and Dietetics (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Allmänmedicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- General Practice (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Farmakologi och toxikologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Pharmacology and Toxicology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Arbetsmedicin och miljömedicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Occupational Health and Environmental Health (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Healthy Nordic diet

Healthy Nordic Food Index

Baltic Sea Diet Score

One-carbon metabolism

Choline oxidation pathway

Vasterbotten

Intervention Programme

one-carbon metabolism

homocysteine concentration

risk-factors

amino-acids

elderly-men

b vitamins

biomarkers

betaine

serum

population

Nutrition & Dietetics

Choline oxidation pathway

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)