Plasma Alkylresorcinols, Biomarkers of Whole-Grain Intake, Are Related to Lower BMI in Older Adults

Abstract

Alkylresorcinols (AR) are phenolic lipids found in the bran fraction of whole-grain wheat, rye, and barley. In intervention studies, plasma AR concentration increased in response to greater intakes of whole grain, wheat, and rye. This study examined the cross-sectional associations between plasma AR and habitual whole-grain intake, BMI, and metabolic risk factors in 407 free-living older adults (166 men and 241 women; aged 60-81y; median BMI: 27 kg/m 2 ). Plasma AR were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem MS, and whole-grain intakes were estimated by using an FFQ. After adjustment for fasting TG concentrations, median plasma AR concentrations across quartile categories of AR were 5, 14, 27, and 62 nmol/L, respectively. Spearman correlation coefficients between plasma AR and whole-grain wheat-rich foods and total bran intake were 0.31 and 0.27, respectively (both P < 0.0001). After adjustment for multiple covariates, the geometric means of BMI in the lowest and highest quartile category of plasma AR were 27.6 and 26.7 kg/m 2 , respectively (P-trend = 0.04). No associations were observed between plasma AR and glucose and insulin. Our study shows a dose-dependent relationship between whole-grain intake and plasma AR and confirms the previously observed inverse relationship between whole-grain intake and BMI using an independent biomarker of whole-grain wheat intake.

Validation of Reported Whole-Grain Intake from a Web-Based Dietary Record against Plasma Alkylresorcinol Concentrations in 8- to 11-Year-Olds Participating in a Randomized Controlled Trial

“…However, plasma AR concentrations can probably be used to distinguish between lowand high-WG consumers with sufficient precision in populations with a regular and frequent WG wheat and rye intake (38). This was verified in recent epidemiologic studies in which plasma ARs were successfully used as a proxy of WG intake in relation to colorectal cancer and body weight (42,43). The modest reproducibility of plasma AR concentration is partly because ARs reflect short-to medium-term intake and because of substantial day-to-day variation in WG intake as evidenced by the observed reproducbility of WG intake (ICC = 0.60).…”

Plasma alkylresorcinols, biomarkers of whole-grain wheat and rye intake, and risk of type 2 diabetes in Scandinavian men and women

“…However, the sample size is relatively large, and the reproducibility of the Swedish part of the study has been shown to be adequate (44). Plasma alkylresorcinol concentrations are to some extent affected by other factors than whole-grain intake, such as sex, age, and BMI (44,(47)(48)(49)(50)(51). We carefully adjusted or matched on these factors, but residual confounding cannot be ruled out.…”

A Dietary Biomarker Approach Captures Compliance and Cardiometabolic Effects of a Healthy Nordic Diet in Individuals with Metabolic Syndrome

“…Hence, intake of the important ND components canola oil and fatty fish can be assessed by determining blood concentrations of a-linolenic acid (18:3n-3) (12) and the long-chain n-3 FA EPA (20:5n-3) and DHA (22:6n-3) (13), respectively, whereas divergence from the prescribed low-fat dairy intake may be reflected by pentadecanoic acid (15:0) (14). Intake of wholegrain wheat and rye, important components of the ND, can be assessed by plasma alkylresorcinol concentrations (15)(16)(17). Certain fruits and vegetables are rich in b-carotene, so this carotenoid was suggested as a DB of fruit and vegetables, which are other major components of the ND (18).…”