The role of the gut microbiome in the association between habitual anthocyanin intake and visceral abdominal fat in population-level analysis

BACKGROUND: Flavonoid intake modifies the composition of the gut microbiome, which contributes to the metabolism of flavonoids. Few studies have examined the contribution of the gut microbiome to the health benefits associated with flavonoid intake. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to examine associations between habitual intakes of flavonoid subclasses and MRI-determined visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous (SAT) adipose tissue. Uniquely, we also identified associations between the aforementioned measurements and gut microbiome composition sequenced from 16S ribosomal RNA genes. METHODS: We undertook cross-sectional analyses of 618 men and women (n = 368 male), aged 25-83 y, from the PopGen cohort. RESULTS: Higher intake of anthocyanins was associated with lower amounts of VAT [tertile (T)3-T1: -0.49 dm3; β: -8.9%; 95% CI: -16.2%, -1.1%; P = 0.03] and VAT:SAT ratio (T3-T1: -0.04; β: -7.1%; 95% CI: -13.5%, -0.3%; P = 0.03). Higher intakes of anthocyanin-rich foods were also inversely associated with VAT [quantile (Q)4-Q1: -0.39 dm3; β: -9.9%; 95% CI: -17.4%, -1.6%; P = 0.02] and VAT:SAT ratio (Q4-Q1: -0.04; β: -6.5%; 95% CI: -13.3%, -0.9%; P = 0.03). Participants with the highest intakes of anthocyanin-rich foods also had higher microbial diversity (Q4-Q1: β: 0.18; 95% CI: 0.06, 0.31; P < 0.01), higher abundances of Clostridiales (Q4-Q1: β: 449; 95% CI: 96.3, 801; P = 0.04) and Ruminococcaceae (Q4-Q1: β: 313; 95% CI: 33.6, 591; P = 0.04), and lower abundance of Clostridium XIVa (Q4-Q1: β: -41.1; 95% CI: -72.4, -9.8; P = 0.04). Participants with the highest microbial diversity, abundances of Clostridiales and Ruminococcaceae, and lower abundance of Clostridium XIVa had lower amounts of VAT. Up to 18.5% of the association between intake of anthocyanin-rich foods and VAT could be explained by the gut microbiome. CONCLUSIONS: These novel data suggest that higher microbial diversity and abundance of specific taxa in the Clostridiales order may contribute to the association between higher intake of anthocyanins and lower abdominal adipose tissue

Proteome profiling in cerebrospinal fluid reveals novel biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease

Neurodegenerative diseases are a growing burden, and there is an urgent need for better biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment efficacy. Structural and functional brain alterations are reflected in the protein composition of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients have higher CSF levels of tau, but we lack knowledge of systems-wide changes of CSF protein levels that accompany AD. Here, we present a highly reproducible mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics workflow for the in-depth analysis of CSF from minimal sample amounts. From three independent studies (197 individuals), we characterize differences in proteins by AD status (> 1,000 proteins, CV < 20%). Proteins with previous links to neurodegeneration such as tau, SOD1, and PARK7 differed most strongly by AD status, providing strong positive controls for our approach. CSF proteome changes in Alzheimer's disease prove to be widespread and often correlated with tau concentrations. Our unbiased screen also reveals a consistent glycolytic signature across our cohorts and a recent study. Machine learning suggests clinical utility of this proteomic signature

Apolipoproteins and their subspecies in human cerebrospinal fluid and plasma

Introduction: Subspecies of apolipoproteins can be defined by fractionating apolipoproteins based on the presence and absence of coexisting apolipoproteins. Methods: We determined age- and sex-adjusted correlations of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay–measured plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) apolipoproteins (apoA-I, apoC-III, apoE, and apoJ) or apolipoprotein subspecies (apoA-I with and without apoC-III, ApoE, or apoJ; apoE with and without apoC-III or apoJ) in 22 dementia-free participants. Results: CSF apoE did not correlate with plasma apolipoproteins or their subspecies. CSF apoJ correlated most strongly with plasma apoA-I without apoJ (r = 0.7). CSF apoA-I correlated similarly strong with plasma total apoA-I and all apoA-I subspecies (r ≥ 0.4) except for apoA-I with apoE (r = 0.3) or apoA-I with apoJ (r = 0.3). CSF apoC-III was most strongly correlated with plasma apoA-I with apoC-III (r = 0.7). Discussion CSF levels of some apolipoproteins implicated in the pathophysiology of dementia might be better approximated by specific plasma apolipoprotein subspecies than total plasma concentrations

MRI-determined total volumes of visceral and subcutaneous abdominal and trunk adipose tissue are differentially and sex-dependently associated with patterns of estimated usual nutrient intake in a northern German population

BACKGROUND Visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous abdominal (SAAT) and trunk (STRAT) adipose tissue (AT) have been suggested to be differentially influenced by diet. OBJECTIVE We investigated whether and to what extent usual patterns of nutrient intake are associated with VAT, SAAT, and STRAT compared with nondietary predictors in northern German adults (n = 583). DESIGN AT volumes were quantified by magnetic resonance imaging. Nutrient intake was estimated by a 112-item food-frequency questionnaire linked to the German Food Code and Nutrient Database. Exploratory nutrient patterns were derived by principal components analysis (PCA) and partial least-squares regression (PLS) of 87 nutrients. Cross-sectional associations between nutrient patterns, single nutrients, or total energy intake and AT compartments were analyzed by multiple linear regression. RESULTS Next to sex and age, respectively, which were important nondietary predictors and accounted for more of the variation in VAT (∼13% and ∼4%) than in SAAT or STRAT (both 4-7% and <1%), variation in VAT (16.8% or 17.6%) was explained to a greater extent by 9 or 2 nutrient patterns derived by principal components analysis or partial least-squares regression, respectively, than was variation in SAAT (10.6% or 8.2%) or STRAT (11.5% or 8.6%). Whereas VAT (16.6%) was primarily explained by nutrient quality, SAAT (6.9%) and STRAT (7.4%) were mainly explained by total energy intake. VAT was positively associated with nutrients characteristic of animal (except for dairy) products, including arachidonic acid (standardized β: 0.25; 95% CI: 0.15, 0.34; P < 0.0001), but negatively with dietary fiber, including polypentoses (standardized β: -0.17; 95% CI: -0.24, -0.09; P < 0.0001), and nutrients found in milk. The direction and strength of many associations, however, depended strongly on sex and adjustment for BMI. CONCLUSION VAT may be particularly associated with sex-specific interplays of nutrients found in animal products and fiber, whereas SAAT and STRAT are associated with total energy intake

Association of food consumption with total volumes of visceral and subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue in a Northern German population

Excess accumulation of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is a known risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases; further, subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (SAAT) and the ratio of both (VAT:SAAT ratio) have been discussed as potentially detrimental. Information about the association between diet and adipose tissue is scarce. This study aimed to identify food group intake associated with VAT and SAAT and the VAT:SAAT ratio in a Northern German population. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted in 344 men and 241 women who underwent an MRI to quantify total volumes of VAT and SAAT. Intake of fourteen food groups was assessed with a self-administered 112-item FFQ. Linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, energy intake, physical activity, intake of other food groups and mutual adjustment for VAT and SAAT were calculated to analyse the associations between standardised food group intake and VAT and SAAT, or the VAT:SAAT ratio. Intakes of potatoes (P=0·043) and cakes (P=0·003) were positively and inversely, respectively, associated with both VAT and SAAT. By contrast, intake of cereals was negatively associated with VAT (P=0·045) only, whereas intakes of eggs (P=0·006) and non-alcoholic beverages (P=0·042) were positively associated with SAAT only. The association between eggs and non-alcoholic beverages with SAAT remained significant after further consideration of VAT. Intake of non-alcoholic beverages was also inversely associated with the VAT:SAAT ratio (P=0·001). Our analysis adds to the evidence that intake of foods is independently associated with VAT or SAAT volumes

Comparison of two exploratory dietary patterns in association with the metabolic syndrome in a Northern German population

Diet is related to many chronic disease conditions such as the metabolic syndrome (MetS). We set out to compare behaviour-related with disease-related patterns and their association with the MetS in a German cross-sectional study. A total of 905 participants of a Northern German cohort (aged 25-82 years) completed a FFQ, underwent anthropometric assessments and provided a blood sample. Dietary patterns were derived by principal component analysis (PCA) and reduced-rank regression (RRR) from forty-two food groups. Components of the MetS were used as response variables for the RRR analysis. Simplified patterns comprising ten food groups were generated. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the likelihood of having the MetS across the quartiles of simplified pattern scores. We identified two similar dietary patterns derived by PCA and RRR characterised by high intakes of potatoes, various vegetables, red and processed meat, fats, sauce and bouillon. Comparing simplified patterns, an increased RRR pattern score was associated with a higher OR (218, 95% CI 125, 381) of having the MetS than an increased PCA pattern score (OR 192, 95% CI 121, 303). Comparing concordant food groups by both dietary pattern methods, a diet high in legumes, beef, processed meat and bouillon was also positively associated with the prevalence of the MetS after adjustment for potential confounders (OR 171, 95% CI 104, 279). We identified a behaviour-related pattern that was positively associated with the MetS. The application of both dietary pattern methods may be advantageous to obtain information for designing and realising dietary guidelines. Prospective studies are needed to confirm the results

Associations of HDL Subspecies Defined by ApoC3 with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Previously, we reported that inverse associations of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) with cardiovascular disease and diabetes were only observed for HDL that lacked the pro-inflammatory protein apolipoprotein C3 (apoC3). To provide further insight into the cardiometabolic properties of HDL subspecies defined by the presence or absence of apoC3, we aimed to examine these subspecies with liver fat content and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We investigated cross-sectional associations between ELISA-measured plasma levels of apoA1 in HDL that contained or lacked apoC3 and computed tomography-determined liver fat content and NAFLD (&lt;51 HU) at baseline (2000-2002) among 5007 participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) without heavy alcohol consumption (&gt;14 drinks/week in men and &gt;7 drinks/week in women). In multivariable-adjusted regression models, apoA1 in HDL that contained or lacked apoC3 was differentially associated with liver fat content (Pheterogeneity = 0.048). While apoA1 in HDL that lacked apoC3 was inversely associated with liver fat content (Ptrend &lt; 0.0001), apoA1 in HDL that contained apoC3 was not statistically significantly associated with liver fat content (Ptrend = 0.57). Higher apoA1 in HDL that lacked apoC3 was related to a lower prevalence of NAFLD (OR per SD: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.72, 0.89), whereas no association was found for apoA1 in HDL that contained apoC3 (OR per SD: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.85, 1.05; Pheterogeneity = 0.09). Higher apoA1 in HDL that lacked apoC3 was associated with less liver fat content and a lower prevalence of NAFLD. This finding extends the inverse association of HDL lacking apoC3 from cardiovascular disease to NAFLD. Lack of biopsy-proven hepatic steatosis and fibrosis data requires the replication of our study in further studies