Abstract
ABSTRACTBackgroundIt is unknown whether meat intake is beneficial for long-term patient and graft survival in kidney transplant recipients (KTR).ObjectivesWe first investigated the association of the previously described meat intake biomarkers 1-methylhistidine and 3-methylhistidine with intake of white and red meat as estimated from a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Second, we investigated the association of the meat intake biomarkers with long-term outcomes in KTR.MethodsWe measured 24-h urinary excretion of 1-methylhistidine and 3-methylhistidine by validated assays in a cohort of 678 clinically stable KTR. Cross-sectional associations were assessed by linear regression. We used Cox regression analyses to prospectively study associations of log2-transformed biomarkers with mortality and graft failure.ResultsUrinary 1-methylhistidine and 3-methylhistidine excretion values were median: 282; interquartile range (IQR): 132–598 µmol/24 h and median: 231; IQR: 175–306 µmol/24 h, respectively. Urinary 1-methylhistidine was associated with white meat intake [standardized β (st β): 0.20; 95% CI: 0.12, 0.28; P < 0.001], whereas urinary 3-methylhistidine was associated with red meat intake (st β: 0.30; 95% CI: 0.23, 0.38; P < 0.001). During median follow-up for 5.4 (IQR: 4.9–6.1) y, 145 (21%) died and 83 (12%) developed graft failure. Urinary 3-methylhistidine was inversely associated with mortality independently of potential confounders (HR per doubling: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.42, 0.72; P < 0.001). Both urinary 1-methylhistidine and urinary 3-methylhistidine were inversely associated with graft failure independent of potential confounders (HR per doubling: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.73, 0.96; P = 0.01; and 0.59; 95% CI: 0.41, 0.85; P = 0.004, respectively).ConclusionsHigh urinary 3-methylhistidine, reflecting higher red meat intake, is independently associated with lower risk of mortality. High urinary concentrations of both 1- and 3-methylhistidine, of which the former reflects higher white meat intake, are independently associated with lower risk of graft failure in KTR. Future intervention studies are warranted to study the effect of high meat intake on mortality and graft failure in KTR, using these biomarkers.
Highlights
Kidney transplant recipients (KTR) are at high risk of premature mortality and decline of renal function [1, 2]
We aimed to investigate the potential association of urinary excretion of 1-methylhistidine (uex1MH) and uex3MH with food frequency questionnaire (FFQ)-derived estimates of meat intake in a large cohort of clinically stable kidney transplant recipients (KTR) who were not subjected to dietary protein intake restrictions
Uex1MH was inversely associated with past smoking behavior, medical history of diabetes mellitus, antidiabetic medication use, and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations
Summary
Kidney transplant recipients (KTR) are at high risk of premature mortality and decline of renal function [1, 2]. Several large cohort studies in the general population have found that high red meat intake is associated with increased risk of chronic kidney disease, kidney failure, and death [5,6,7]. White meat intake has been associated with lower risk of mortality in the general population [5]. It is unknown whether white meat, red meat, or both are associated with long-term outcomes in KTR. Conclusions: High urinary 3-methylhistidine, reflecting higher red meat intake, is independently associated with lower risk of mortality. High urinary concentrations of both 1- and 3-methylhistidine, of which the former reflects higher white meat intake, are independently associated with lower risk of graft failure in KTR.
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