Plasma nutrient biomarkers are associated with waist-to-height ratio in youth with type 1 diabetes.
BACKGROUND
Plasma fatty acids (FAs) and micronutrients have been associated with central obesity in adults; however, previous studies of these associations in adults have yielded mixed results. In addition, no comparable research has been conducted among youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D).


OBJECTIVE
We investigated the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between plasma nutrient biomarkers and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) in youth with T1D.


METHODS
These analyses included 1324 youth aged 3-20 y at T1D diagnosis with a baseline visit in the SEARCH (Search for Diabetes in Youth) Study and a subset of 1178 of these youth with a follow-up visit an average of 23 mo (range: 16-40 mo) after their baseline visit. Plasma phospholipid FAs and vitamins were measured, and estimated desaturase activities were calculated at baseline. Anthropometric measurements and diabetes-related assessments were collected at each visit. Multiple linear regression was used to examine the association between plasma nutrient biomarkers and WHtR.


RESULTS
In cross-sectional analysis, plasma palmitic acid (P = 0.004), dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA; P = 0.017) and Δ6 desaturase (D6D; P = 0.006) were positively correlated with WHtR after adjustment of confounders. Oleic acid (OA; P = 0.002), linoleic acid (LA; P = 0.015), Δ9 desaturase 18 (D9D-18; P = 0.027), and vitamin D (P < 0.0001) were negatively correlated with WHtR after adjustment. Weight status was an effect modifier (P < 0.05). In normal-weight youth, vitamin D (P = 0.003) was negatively associated with WHtR. In obese youth, stearic acid (P = 0.037), DGLA (P < 0.0001), and D6D (P < 0.0001) were positively associated and OA (P = 0.0008), D9D-18 (P = 0.0006), and vitamin D (P < 0.0001) were negatively associated with WHtR. In longitudinal analysis, baseline linoleic acid (P = 0.018), n-6:n-3 (ω-3:ω-6) FA ratio (P = 0.029), vitamin D (P = 0.003), and vitamin E (P < 0.0001) were negatively correlated with WHtR at follow-up only in obese participants.


CONCLUSIONS
In T1D youth, plasma FAs and vitamins are associated with WHtR and are modified by weight status. These associations are particularly marked in obese youth.
Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China Departments of Nutrition and Medicine and.
Shanshan
S
Wang
School of Nursing and Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.
Jamie L
JL
Crandell
Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH.
Sarah C
SC
Couch
Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM.
Irena B
IB
King
Department of Research and Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, CA.
Jean M
JM
Lawrence
Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO.
Dana
D
Dabelea
Departments of Nutrition and Medicine and.
Archana P
AP
Lamichhane
Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA.
Grace
G
Kim
Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC; and.
Ronny A
RA
Bell
Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China Obesity and Body Composition Research Center, Chronic Disease Research Institute, School of Public Health, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Shankuan
S
Zhu
Departments of Nutrition and Medicine and ejmayer-davis@unc.edu.
Elizabeth J
EJ
Mayer-Davis
D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood*; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000097:blood; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D057230:Limit of Detection; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000097:blood*; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood; D019308:Palmitic Acid / Q000097:blood; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood; D055105:Waist Circumference; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D018977:Micronutrients; D010743:Phospholipids; D014807:Vitamin D; D014810:Vitamin E; D019308:Palmitic Acid; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases
central obesity; plasma biomarker; plasma fatty acids; type 1 diabetes; waist-to-height ratio