Association between Metabolite Profiles, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity Status.

Bénédicte Allam-Ndoul,Hubert Cormier,Marie-Claude Vohl,Louis Pérusse,Olivier Barbier,Frédéric Guénard,Véronique Garneau

doi:10.3390/nu8060324

Abstract

Underlying mechanisms associated with the development of abnormal metabolic phenotypes among obese individuals are not yet clear. Our aim is to investigate differences in plasma metabolomics profiles between normal weight (NW) and overweight/obese (Ov/Ob) individuals, with or without metabolic syndrome (MetS). Mass spectrometry-based metabolite profiling was used to compare metabolite levels between each group. Three main principal components factors explaining a maximum of variance were retained. Factor 1’s (long chain glycerophospholipids) metabolite profile score was higher among Ov/Ob with MetS than among Ov/Ob and NW participants without MetS. This factor was positively correlated to plasma total cholesterol (total-C) and triglyceride levels in the three groups, to high density lipoprotein -cholesterol (HDL-C) among participants without MetS. Factor 2 (amino acids and short to long chain acylcarnitine) was positively correlated to HDL-C and negatively correlated with insulin levels among NW participants. Factor 3’s (medium chain acylcarnitines) metabolite profile scores were higher among NW participants than among Ov/Ob with or without MetS. Factor 3 was negatively associated with glucose levels among the Ov/Ob with MetS. Factor 1 seems to be associated with a deteriorated metabolic profile that corresponds to obesity, whereas Factors 2 and 3 seem to be rather associated with a healthy metabolic profile.

Highlights

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is defined as the association of obesity, insulin resistance (IR), hypertension and dyslipidemia [1]
Obesity is mainly considered to be responsible for the rising prevalence of MetS [2], associated with higher plasma triglyceride (TG) levels, lower high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, hyperglycemia and increased cardiovascular diseases (CVD) risk [1]
Ov/Ob individuals with or without MetS were older than normal weight (NW) subjects

Summary

Introduction

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is defined as the association of obesity, insulin resistance (IR), hypertension and dyslipidemia [1]. MetS predisposes an individual to several metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) [2]. Obesity is mainly considered to be responsible for the rising prevalence of MetS [2], associated with higher plasma triglyceride (TG) levels, lower high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, hyperglycemia and increased CVD risk [1]. The prevalence of obesity has been increasing dramatically worldwide over the past three decades [3]. It is important to point out the fact that 10%–30% of obese individuals are insulin sensitive and have normal plasma lipid profile and blood pressure, being considered as obese but metabolically healthy [5,6,7]

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