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Published on: September 27, 2019
Association of Acylcarnitine Species and Anthropometry Markers in a Population-Based Apparently Healthy Cohort
Ko Ko Maung1,2, Rebecca Borreggine3, Hector Gallart-Ayala3
1Department of Medicine, Internal Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
Background/Objectives:
Acylcarnitine has been linked to adiposity, yet evidence in healthy adults is scarce. Hence, we aim to investigate associations of circulating acylcarnitine levels with traditional and newer anthropometric markers cross-sectionally, and with future weight change prospectively.
Methods:
We used data from CoLaus|PsyCoLaus cohort of apparently healthy adults in Lausanne, Switzerland. Anthropometry markers include body mass index, waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, conicity index, body roundness index, body shape index, leptin, adiponectin and grip strength.
Results:
Cross-sectionally, free carnitine, short-chain acylcarnitines (SCACs: C0, C3:0, C4:0 C5:0 and C5:0-OH), medium-chain acylcarnitines (MCACs: C6:0 and C8:1) and long-chain acylcarnitines (LCACs: C16:0) were positively associated with most anthropometric markers. After multivariate adjustment, only free carnitine, SCACs (C3:0 and C5:0), and MCAC C8:1 retained their positive associations with multiple markers. SCACs showed the strongest associations (-log10 p-values up to 91), followed by free carnitine and Deoxycarnitine. When stratified by sex, C8:1 showed consistent positive associations with anthropometric markers only in females. Prospectively, a higher baseline level of SCAC (C5:0-OH) was associated with ≥5 kg weight gain at both 5- and 10-year follow-ups, whereas higher baseline levels of MCAC (C8:1) and LCACs (C16:0 and C18:2) were associated with weight gain only at 10 years.
Conclusions:
SCAC showed most consistent associations with multiple anthropometric markers. Prospectively, specific ACs were associated with weight gain, suggesting that baseline AC levels may reflect early metabolic alterations linked to adiposity.
