Relationship between serum butyrylcholinesterase and the metabolic syndrome

To identify independent predictors of serum butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) activity and examine its relationship with the metabolic syndrome.

Serum BuChE activity was measured and metabolic syndrome risk factors were assessed in 1097 healthy subjects recruited from the Newfoundland adult population.

Serum BuChE activity was related to insulin homeostasis and correlated with fasting insulin levels (r = 0.266, P < 0.001) and insulin resistance (HOMA-R) index (r = 0.292, P < 0.001) and was higher in individuals with risk factors for the metabolic syndrome. BuChE activity was higher in males than in females and correlated most strongly with serum triglyceride levels (r = 0.363, P < 0.001) and indicators of abdominal obesity (r = 0.355, P < 0.001). Percent trunk fat (beta = 0.185, P < 0.001), triglyceride levels (beta = 0.225, P < 0.001), sex (beta = -0.202, P = 0.001), glucose (beta = 0.209, P < 0.001), insulin (beta = 0.360, P = 0.011), HOMA-R (beta = -0.319, P = 0.044), and age (beta = 0.086, P = 0.002) were independent predictors of BuChE activity.

These results suggest the involvement of BuChE in the pathophysiological process constituting the metabolic syndrome. Whether increased BuChE activity precedes or follows the development of risk factors is not known.