Changes in Circulating miR-375-3p and Improvements in Visceral and Hepatic Fat Contents in Response to Lifestyle Interventions: The CENTRAL Trial

Abstract

<p> </p> <p><strong>Objective:</strong> To investigate whether changes in circulating levels of pancreatic islet-related microRNA-375 (miR-375) were related to improved visceral and intrahepatic fat accumulation. </p> <p><strong>Research Design and Methods: </strong>This study included adults with abdominal obesity from an 18-month weight-loss lifestyle intervention trial. Circulating miR-375-3p was measured at baseline and 18 months. The magnetic-resonance-imaging (MRI) was performed (n=139) to assess 18-month changes in abdominal and intrahepatic fat depots.</p> <p><strong>Results: </strong>Circulating miR-375-3p was related to fasting insulin and insulin resistance in participants with pre-diabetes. After the interventions, there was a significant increase of miR-375-3p (<em>p </em><0.001). Greater increase in miR-375-3p was associated with larger reductions of visceral (<em>p</em>=0.024) and deep subcutaneous adipose tissues (<em>p</em> <0.001), and intrahepatic fat content (<em>p</em>=0.012).</p> <p><strong>Conclusions</strong>: Increases in circulating miR-375-3p were associated with visceral and intrahepatic fat reduction. Changes in circulating pancreatic islet-related miR-375-3p may be linked to improved diabetogenic fat depots during weight-loss lifestyle interventions. </p>