Associations between circulating amino acids and hepatic steatosis indices in Iranian adults aged over 50: findings from the Bushehr elderly health (BEH) program.

IF 2.1 Q4 ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM

Journal of Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders Pub Date : 2025-10-14 eCollection Date: 2025-12-01 DOI:10.1007/s40200-025-01733-2

Azadeh Zarinkolah, Neda Cheraghloo, Azin Soltani, Kazem Khalagi, Nekoo Panahi, Maryam Amini Shirkouhi, Fatemeh Bandarian, Mostafa Rezaei-Tavirani, Gita Shafiee, Afshin Ostovar, Niloufar Najjar, Noushin Fahimfar, Iraj Nabipour, Farideh Razi, Mohammad Reza Mohajeri-Tehrani, Bagher Larijani

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Emerging evidence highlights the role of amino acid metabolism in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) pathogenesis; however, data remain limited in Middle Eastern population. This study aimed to investigate the association between circulating amino acid profiles and NAFLD screened by the Fatty Liver Index (FLI) and Framingham Steatosis Index (FSI) among Iranian population 50years and over.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1642 participants aged ≥ 50years from Bushehr Elderly Health Program. Amino acid levels were quantified using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). FLI and FSI were calculated as surrogate markers for NAFLD. Logistic regression and principal component analysis (PCA) were employed to assess associations between individual and clustered amino acid patterns and NAFLD indices, adjusting for confounders such as age, sex, BMI, diabetes, lipid profile, and inflammation markers.

Results: The study included 1642 people (mean age62.24 ± 8.18 years). Higher levels of branched-chain, amino acids leucine (FSI: OR = 1.0083;FLI: OR = 1.0102) and valine (FSI: OR = 1.0064) and aromatic amino acids, tyrosine (FSI: OR = 1.0101;FLI: OR = 1.0211), phenylalanine (FLI: OR = 1.0131), tryptophan (FLI: OR = 1.0072), along with alanine (FSI: OR = 1.0039;FLI: OR = 1.0034) and glutamic acid (FSI: OR = 1.0032;FLI: OR = 1.0085), were positively associated with increased FLI and FSI scores (FDR < 0.05). PCA revealed component1 (rich in alanine, glutamic acid, leucine, valine, and proline) was positively associated with increased FLI(OR = 1.073,p = 0.019). Conversely, component4 (threonine, serine) was inversely associated with FSI(OR = 0.860,p = 0.024).

Conclusions: Elevated levels of branched-chain and aromatic amino acids, are associated with increased FLI and FSI, while glycine, serine, threonine, and citrulline may exert protective effects. These findings underscore the potential role of amino acid metabolism in NAFLD pathogenesis and opportunities for dietary or metabolic interventions.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-025-01733-2.

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循环氨基酸与50岁以上伊朗成年人肝脏脂肪变性指数之间的关系：来自布什尔老年健康（BEH）项目的研究结果

背景：新的证据强调了氨基酸代谢在非酒精性脂肪性肝病（NAFLD）发病机制中的作用；然而，中东人口的数据仍然有限。本研究旨在调查循环氨基酸谱与50岁及以上伊朗人群中脂肪肝指数（FLI）和Framingham脂肪变性指数（FSI）筛选的NAFLD之间的关系。方法：本横断面研究纳入了来自Bushehr老年健康计划的1642名年龄≥50岁的参与者。采用液相色谱-串联质谱法（LC-MS/MS）定量测定氨基酸水平。计算FLI和FSI作为NAFLD的替代标志物。采用Logistic回归和主成分分析（PCA）来评估个体和群集氨基酸模式与NAFLD指数之间的关系，调整混杂因素，如年龄、性别、BMI、糖尿病、血脂和炎症标志物。结果：共纳入1642例，平均年龄62.24±8.18岁。较高水平的支链氨基酸亮氨酸（FSI: OR = 1.0083;FLI: OR = 1.0102）、缬氨酸（FSI: OR = 1.0064）和芳香氨基酸酪氨酸（FSI: OR = 1.0101;FLI: OR = 1.0211）、苯丙氨酸（FLI: OR = 1.0131）、色氨酸（FLI: OR = 1.0072）、丙氨酸（FSI: OR = 1.0039;FLI: OR = 1.0034）和谷氨酸（FSI: OR = 1.0032;FLI: OR = 1.0085）与FLI和FSI评分升高呈正相关（FDR p = 0.019）。相反，组分4（苏氨酸、丝氨酸）与FSI呈负相关（OR = 0.860,p = 0.024）。结论：支链和芳香氨基酸水平升高与FLI和FSI升高有关，而甘氨酸、丝氨酸、苏氨酸和瓜氨酸可能具有保护作用。这些发现强调了氨基酸代谢在NAFLD发病机制中的潜在作用，以及饮食或代谢干预的机会。补充资料：在线版本提供补充资料，网址为10.1007/s40200-025-01733-2。

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来源期刊

Journal of Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders Medicine-Internal Medicine

CiteScore

4.80

自引率

3.60%

发文量

210

期刊介绍： Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders is a peer reviewed journal which publishes original clinical and translational articles and reviews in the field of endocrinology and provides a forum of debate of the highest quality on these issues. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, diabetes, lipid disorders, metabolic disorders, osteoporosis, interdisciplinary practices in endocrinology, cardiovascular and metabolic risk, aging research, obesity, traditional medicine, pychosomatic research, behavioral medicine, ethics and evidence-based practices.As of Jan 2018 the journal is published by Springer as a hybrid journal with no article processing charges. All articles published before 2018 are available free of charge on springerlink.Unofficial 2017 2-year Impact Factor: 1.816.