Metabolomic Markers Associated with Central Adiposity Gain in Young Adults

Abstract

The metabolome reflects metabolic activity and dietary exposures. We conducted a discovery‐based analysis to identify metabolomic markers associated with subsequent increases in adiposity in young adults, which could lead to improving prevention efforts. In a prospective cohort study of freshmen (1 academic year duration; n=141), we identified two groups of participants: 1) those who increased on all 3 markers of adiposity (truncal fat by dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry, waist circumference, and weight; n=66; 47% female) and 2) those who were stable (n=16; 56% female). Individual plasma aliquots collected at study baseline were grouped into pools, assayed in triplicate (GC/MS), and the resulting chromatograms were analyzed using MetaboliteDetector software. Normalized metabolite levels were compared between pools using Welch's t‐test. We detected 315 metabolites of verified quality; 11 metabolites were statistically significantly different between the two groups (nominal p‐value <0.05). One metabolite, meso‐erythritol, reached the a priori false discovery rate threshold <0.2 (nominal p=0.0006, FDR q‐value=0.1965); the concentration was 11‐fold higher in the pool with increased central adiposity vs. the pool of stable participants. Other analyses compared the metabolome in two further pools, created according to baseline glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c): meso‐erythritol was 19‐fold greater in the pooled samples of participants with HbA1c>5.5% vs. HbA1c<4.9% (nominal p=0.015). Meso‐erythritol, a metabolite from intake of erythritol, a non‐nutritive sweetener added to commercial foodstuffs, was positively associated with an increase in central adiposity in young adults in this study.