Association of habitual dietary intake with liver iron: a population-based imaging study

Iron-related disorders of the liver can result in serious health conditions, such as liver cirrhosis. Evidence on the role of modifiable lifestyle factors like nutrition in liver iron storage is lacking. Thus, we aimed to assess the association of habitual diet with liver iron content (LIC). We investigated 303 participants from the population-based KORA-MRI study who underwent whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Dietary habits were evaluated using repeated 24 h food lists and a food frequency questionnaire. Sex-stratified multiple linear regression models were applied to quantify the association between nutrition variables of interest and LIC, adjusting for liver fat content (LFC), energy intake, and age. Mean age of participants was 56.4 ± 9.0 years and 44.2% were female. Mean LIC was 1.23 ± 0.12 mg/g dry weight, with higher values in men than in women (1.26 ± 0.13 and 1.20 ± 0.10 mg/g, p < 0.001). Alcohol intake was positively associated with LIC (men: β = 1.94; women: β = 4.98, p-values < 0.03). Significant negative associations with LIC were found for fiber (β = −5.61, p < 0.001) and potassium (β = −0.058, p = 0.034) for female participants only. Furthermore, LIC was highly correlated with liver fat content in both sexes. Our findings suggests that there are sex-specific associations of habitual dietary intake and LIC. Alcohol, fiber, and potassium may play a considerable role in liver iron metabolism

Anthropometric and blood parameters for the prediction of NAFLD among overweight and obese adults

Backround: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) comprises non-progressive steatosis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the latter of which may cause cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). As NAFLD detection is imperative for the prevention of its complications, we evaluated whether a combination of blood-based biomarkers and anthropometric parameters can be used to predict NAFLD among overweight and obese adults. Methods: 143 overweight or obese non-smokers free of diabetes (50% women, age: 35–65 years) were recruited. Anthropometric indices and routine biomarkers of metabolism and liver function were measured to predict magnetic resonance (MR) - derived NAFLD by multivariable logistic regression models. In addition, we evaluated to which degree the use of more novel biomarkers (adiponectin, leptin, resistin, C-reactive protein, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 and interferon-γ) could improve prediction models. Results: NAFLD was best predicted by a combination of age, sex, waist circumference, ALT, HbA1c, and HOMA-IR at an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.87 (95% CI: 0.81, 0.93) before and 0.85 (95% CI: 0.78, 0.91) after internal bootstrap validation. The use of additional biomarkers of inflammation and metabolism did not improve NAFLD prediction. Previously published indices predicted NAFLD at AUROCs between 0.71 and 0.82. Conclusions: The AUROC of &gt; 0.8 obtained by our regression model suggests the feasibility of a non-invasive detection of NAFLD by anthropometry and circulating biomarkers, even though further increments in the capacity of prediction models may be needed before NAFLD indices can be applied in routine clinical practice

Impact of progressive resistance training on CT quantified muscle and adipose tissue compartments in pancreatic cancer patients.

ObjectivesLoss of body weight is often seen in pancreatic cancer and also predicts poor prognosis. Thus, maintaining muscle mass is an essential treatment goal. The primary aim was to investigate whether progressive resistance training impacts muscle and adipose tissue compartments. Furthermore, the effect of body composition on overall survival (OS) was investigated.MethodsIn the randomized SUPPORT-study, 65 patients were assigned to 6-month resistance training (2x/week) or a usual care control group. As secondary endpoint, muscle strength of the upper and lower extremities was assessed before and after the intervention period. Routine CT scans were assessed on lumbar L3/4 level for quantification of total-fat-area, visceral-fat-area, subcutaneous-fat-area, intramuscular-fat-area, visceral-to-subcutaneous fat ratio (VFR), muscle-area (MA), muscle-density and skeletal-muscle-index (SMI). OS data were retrieved.ResultsOf 65 patients, 53 had suitable CT scans at baseline and 28 completed the intervention period with suitable CT scans. There were no significant effects observed of resistance training on body composition (p>0.05; effect sizes ω2p ConclusionThere is anabolic potential in patients with resectable pancreatic cancer. A progressive resistance training may help patients to maintain their muscle mass and avoid muscle depletion. CT-quantified muscle mass at the level of L3/4 showed a good correlation to muscle strength. Therefore, maintaining muscle mass and muscle strength through structured resistance training could help patients to maintain their physical functioning. A high VFR at baseline and a high loss of muscle mass are predictors of poor OS. Registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01977066)

Prognostic Impact of CT-Quantified Muscle and Fat Distribution before and after First-Line-Chemotherapy in Lung Cancer Patients.

Cachexia and sarcopenia are associated with poor outcome and increased chemotherapy-induced toxicity in lung cancer patients. However, the complex interplay of obesity, sarcopenia and cachexia, and its impact on survival in the context of first-line-chemotherapy is not yet understood.In 200 consecutively recruited lung cancer patients (70 female, mean age 62y; mean BMI 25 kg/m2; median follow-up 15.97 months) with routine staging-CT before and after chemotherapy (CTX, mean interval: 4.3 months), densitometric quantification of total (TFA), visceral (VFA), and subcutaneous-fat-area (SFA), inter-muscular-fat-area (IMFA), muscle-density (MD), muscle-area (MA) and skeletal-muscle-index (SMI) was performed retrospectively to evaluate changes under chemotherapy and the impact on survival.We observed increases in TFA, VFA, SFA, VFA/SFA, and IMFA (p<0.05-0.001), while there were decreases in MA, MD and BMI (p<0.05-0.001) after chemotherapy. High pre-therapeutic VFA/SFA was a predictive factor for poor survival (HR = 1.272; p = 0.008), high pre-therapeutic MD for improved survival (HR = 0.93; p<0.05). Decrease in BMI (HR = 1.303; p<0.001), weight (HR = 1.067; p<0.001) and SMI (HR = 1.063; p<0.001) after chemotherapy were associated with poor survival. Patients with ≥4 CTX-cycles showed increased survival (17.6 vs. 9.1months), less muscle depletion (SMIdifference: p<0.05) and no BMI loss (BMIdifference: p<0.001).After chemotherapy, patients exhibited sarcopenia with decreased muscle and increased adipose tissue compartments, which was not adequately mirrored by BMI and weight loss but by imaging. Particularly sarcopenic patients received less CTX-cycles and had poorer survival. As loss of BMI, weight and muscle were associated with poor survival, early detection (via imaging) and prevention (via physical exercise and nutrition) of sarcopenia may potentially improve outcome and reduce chemotherapy-induced toxicity

Dietary Factors in Relation to Liver Fat Content: A Cross-sectional Study

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can lead to functional liver impairment and severe comorbidities. Beyond energy balance, several dietary factors may increase NAFLD risk, but human studies are lacking. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the associations between food consumption (47 food groups, derived Mediterranean and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet quality scores) and liver fat content (continuous scale and NAFLD, i.e., &gt;5% liver fat content). Liver fat content was measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 136 individuals (BMI: 25&ndash;40 kg/m2, age: 35&ndash;65, 50.7% women) and food intake was recorded by food frequency questionnaires (FFQs). Associations between food items and liver fat were evaluated by multi-variable regression models. Intakes of cake and cookies as well legumes were inversely associated with liver fat content, while positive associations with intakes of high-fat dairy and cheese were observed. Only cake and cookie intake also showed an inverse association with NAFLD. This inverse association was unexpected, but not affected by adjustment for reporting bias. Both diet quality scores were inversely associated with liver fat content and NAFLD. Thus, as smaller previous intervention studies, our results suggest that higher diet quality is related to lower liver fat, but larger trials with iso-caloric interventions are needed to corroborate these findings

Vertebral Bone Marrow Fat Is independently Associated to VAT but Not to SAT: KORA FF4—Whole-Body MR Imaging in a Population-Based Cohort

The objective of the current study was to assess the relationship of bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) content to abdominal fat depots, including visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), as well as cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) beyond physical activity in a population-based cohort study undergoing whole-body magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Subjects of the Cooperative Health Research in the Augsburg Region (KORA) FF4 study without known cardiovascular disease underwent fat fraction quantification in vertebrae (BMATL1/L2) via a 2-point T1-weighted volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination (VIBE) Dixon sequence. The same MR sequence was applied to quantify VAT and SAT volume. Subjects&rsquo; characteristics, including physical activity, were determined through standardized exams and self-assessment questionnaires. Univariate and multivariate linear regression were applied. In the cohort of 378 subjects (56 &plusmn; 9.1years; 42.1% female), BMATL1/L2 was 54.3 &plusmn; 10.1%, VAT was 4.54 &plusmn; 2.71 L, and SAT was 8.10 &plusmn; 3.68 L. VAT differed significantly across BMATL1/L2 tertiles (3.60 &plusmn; 2.76 vs. 4.92 &plusmn; 2.66 vs. 5.11 &plusmn; 2.48; p &lt; 0.001), there was no significant differences for SAT (p = 0.39). In the fully adjusted model, VAT remained positively associated with BMATL1/L2 (&beta; = 0.53, p = 0.03). Furthermore, BMATL1/L2 was associated with age (&beta; = 5.40 per 10-years, p &lt; 0.001), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c; &beta; = 1.55 per 1%, p = 0.04), lipids (&beta; = 0.20 per 10 mg/dL triglycerides; &beta; = 0.40 per 10 mg/dL low-density lipoprotein (LDL); &beta; =&minus;3.21 lipid-lowering medication; all p &lt; 0.05), and less physical activity (&beta; = 3.7 &ldquo;no or nearly no exercise&rdquo; as compared to &ldquo;&ge;2 h per week, regularly&rdquo;, p = 0.003); gender was not significantly different (p = 0.57). In the population-based cohort, VAT but not SAT were associated with higher BMATL1/L2 independently of physical activity and other cardiovascular risk factors. Further, BMATL1/L2 increased with older age, less physical activity, higher HbA1c, and increased lipids but decreased with lipid-lowering medication

Serum metabolite signatures of cardiac function and morphology in individuals from a population-based cohort

Abstract Background Changes in serum metabolites in individuals with altered cardiac function and morphology may exhibit information about cardiovascular disease (CVD) pathway dysregulations and potential CVD risk factors. We aimed to explore associations of cardiac function and morphology, evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with a large panel of serum metabolites. Methods Cross-sectional data from CVD-free individuals from the population-based KORA cohort were analyzed. Associations between 3T-MRI-derived left ventricular (LV) function and morphology parameters (e.g., volumes, filling rates, wall thickness) and markers of carotid plaque with metabolite profile clusters and single metabolites as outcomes were assessed by adjusted multinomial logistic regression and linear regression models. Results In 360 individuals (mean age 56.3 years; 41.9% female), 146 serum metabolites clustered into three distinct profiles that reflected high-, intermediate- and low-CVD risk. Higher stroke volume (relative risk ratio (RRR): 0.53, 95%-CI [0.37; 0.76], p-value < 0.001) and early diastolic filling rate (RRR: 0.51, 95%-CI [0.37; 0.71], p-value < 0.001) were most strongly protectively associated against the high-risk profile compared to the low-risk profile after adjusting for traditional CVD risk factors. Moreover, imaging markers were associated with 10 metabolites in linear regression. Notably, negative associations of stroke volume and early diastolic filling rate with acylcarnitine C5, and positive association of function parameters with lysophosphatidylcholines, diacylphosphatidylcholines, and acylalkylphosphatidylcholines were observed. Furthermore, there was a negative association of LV wall thickness with alanine, creatinine, and symmetric dimethylarginine. We found no significant associations with carotid plaque. Conclusions Serum metabolite signatures are associated with cardiac function and morphology even in individuals without a clinical indication of CVD