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Isolation of High-density Lipoproteins for Non-coding Small RNA Quantification
Published on: November 28, 2016
Low childhood high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and subsequent risk for chronic inflammatory bowel disease
Markku Voutilainen1, Nina Hutri-Kähönen2, Päivi Tossavainen3
1Department of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Division of Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
Insights
Low childhood HDL-cholesterol is linked to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A genetic risk score for low HDL-cholesterol also predicts later IBD diagnosis, suggesting a role for HDL metabolism in IBD development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Research
- Gastroenterology
- Metabolic Health
Background:
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) incidence is rising globally, particularly in developed nations.
- Childhood risk factors for IBD require further investigation to understand disease etiology.
- Longitudinal studies are crucial for identifying early-life predictors of chronic diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate childhood risk factors associated with the later diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
- To explore the relationship between lipid profiles, inflammatory markers, and genetic predispositions in predicting IBD in a pediatric cohort.
- To assess the role of HDL-cholesterol metabolism in the pathogenesis of IBD.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal cohort study of 3551 Finnish children and adolescents (Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns study, 1980).
- Baseline measurements included BMI, insulin, lipids, C-reactive protein (CRP), blood pressure, socioeconomic status, diet, physical activity, and environmental factors.
- IBD diagnosis was tracked via nationwide hospitalizations and drug reimbursement registries over 34 years.
Main Results:
- 49 participants (1.4%) were diagnosed with IBD during follow-up.
- Lower childhood HDL-cholesterol and higher CRP levels were significantly correlated with IBD risk.
- An inverse association between HDL-cholesterol and IBD persisted in multivariable analysis, and a genetic risk score for HDL-cholesterol was lower in IBD patients.
Conclusions:
- Low childhood HDL-cholesterol levels are a significant risk factor for subsequent IBD diagnosis.
- Genetic predisposition related to HDL-cholesterol metabolism may play a role in IBD pathogenesis.
- These findings highlight the potential involvement of lipid metabolism in the development of inflammatory bowel disease.
Background And Aims:
Several genetic and environmental risk factors have been linked to chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The incidence of IBD has significantly increased in developed countries during last decades. The aim of the present study was to examine childhood risk factors for subsequent IBD diagnosis in a longitudinal cohort study of children and adolescents.
Methods:
A Finnish study population consisting of 3551 children and adolescents originally evaluated as part of the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns study in 1980. At baseline, participant BMI, insulin, lipid, C-reactive protein and blood pressure levels, socioeconomic position, dietary habits, and physical activity, were evaluated. In addition, information was gathered on rural residency, severe infections, breast feeding, parental smoking and birth weight. Subsequent IBD diagnosis status was evaluated based on nationwide registries on hospitalisations and drug imbursement decisions.
Results:
Altogether, 49 participants (1.4%) had IBD diagnosed during the 34 years of register follow-up, of which 31 had ulcerative colitis, 12 Crohn's disease and 6 undetermined colitis. In univariate analyses, significant correlations were observed between childhood HDL-cholesterol (risk ratio (95% CI) for 1-SD change (0.58 (0.42-0.79)) and CRP concentrations (1.20 (1.01-1.43)) with IBD. The inverse association between HDL-cholesterol and IBD remained significant (0.57 (0.39-0.82)) in a multivariable model including data on age, sex and CRP. In addition, a weighted genetic z-score of 71 single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with elevated HDL-cholesterol levels was significantly lower in IBD patients, P=0.01).
Conclusion:
Low childhood HDL-cholesterol levels are associated with subsequent IBD diagnosis. In addition, a genetic risk score associated with low HDL-cholesterol levels predict later IBD suggesting that HDL-cholesterol metabolism might have a role in the pathogenesis of IBD.
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