Dietary intake of methyl donor nutrients in relation to metabolic health status, serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and adropin

Abstract

Background and aims: There is a lack of evidence on dietary intake of methyl donor nutrients with metabolic health status and related biomarkers. Thus, this study aimed to assess the relation between methyl donor nutrients intake and metabolic health status with regarding the interactive roles of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and adropin in Iranian adults.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted among 527 Iranian adults (45.7% female) selected by multistage cluster random-sampling method. A validated food frequency questionnaire was used to evaluate participants' dietary intake. Metabolic unhealthy status was defined by Wildman criteria as having ≥ 2 of hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia, hypertension, chronic inflammation, and insulin resistance. Concentrations of metabolic parameters, BDNF and adropin were determined using fasting blood samples.

Results: An inverse association was found between methyl donor nutrients intake and metabolically unhealthy status in multivariable-adjusted model (OR_{T3 vs. T1} = 0.30; 95%CI: 0.12-0.75). This association was especially significant among overweight/obese adults and was stronger in women. Additionally, consumption of vitamin B6 and choline was separately related to reduced odds of metabolically unhealthy status. Methyl donor intake was not significantly related to low BDNF (OR_{T3 vs. T1} = 0.93; 95%CI: 0.60-1.44) and adropin (OR_{T3 vs. T1} = 0.71; 95%CI: 0.44-1.15). However, the interaction between high methyl donor nutrients intake and high BDNF was related to lower odds of metabolically unhealthy status in multivariable-adjusted model (OR_MDNS∗BDNF = 0.27; 95%CI: 0.11-0.67).

Conclusion: Higher intake of methyl donor nutrients, alone and in interaction with BDNF levels, was associated with decreased odds of metabolically unhealthy status in Iranian adults.

Keywords: Adropin; Adults; Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Metabolic health status; Methyl donor nutrients.