Low serum choline and high serum betaine levels are associated with favorable components of metabolic syndrome in Newfoundland population

Abstract

BackgroundWe investigated the relationships between serum choline and betaine levels with metabolic syndrome-related indices in the general population of Newfoundland. Methods1081 adults were selected from the CODING study. Serum choline and betaine levels were measured. Major confounding factors were controlled in all analyses. ResultsPartial correlation and linear regression analysis showed that serum choline levels were positively associated with systolic blood pressure (r: 0.124), serum TG levels (r: 0.132) and negatively correlated with serum glucose levels (r: −0.121) in males (p < 0.01 for all). In females, serum choline levels were positively correlated with serum TG, TC and HDL levels (r: 0.104 to 0.148, p < 0.05 for all). Serum betaine levels were negatively associated with serum TG, TC, LDL and insulin levels, and with atherogenic index and HOMA-IR index in males (r: −0.081 to −0.179, p < 0.05 for all). In females, serum betaine levels were negatively associated with serum TG, hsCRP and insulin levels, and with HOMA-IR index (r: −0.092 to −0.213, p < 0.05 for all). Moreover, subjects with serum choline levels in the highest tertile showed highest serum TG levels and systolic blood pressure in males, and highest serum lipids levels in females. Subjects with the highest serum betaine levels had the lowest serum lipids levels, atherogenic index, IR severity in males, and the lowest serum TG and hsCRP levels, and IR severity in females. ConclusionLow serum choline and high serum betaine levels are associated with favorable components of metabolic syndrome in general adults.