Blood biomarkers of various dietary patterns correlated with metabolic indicators in Taiwanese type 2 diabetes

Meng-Chuan Huang; Chiao-I Chang; Wen-Tsan Chang; Yen-Ling Liao; Hsin-Fang Chung; Chih-Cheng Hsu; Shyi-Jang Shin; Kun-Der Lin

doi:10.29219/fnr.v63.3592

Blood biomarkers of various dietary patterns correlated with metabolic indicators in Taiwanese type 2 diabetes

Food Nutr Res. 2019 Nov 20:63. doi: 10.29219/fnr.v63.3592. eCollection 2019.

Authors

Meng-Chuan Huang^{1

2}, Chiao-I Chang², Wen-Tsan Chang^{3

4}, Yen-Ling Liao², Hsin-Fang Chung⁵, Chih-Cheng Hsu⁶, Shyi-Jang Shin^{3

7}, Kun-Der Lin^{7

8}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
² Graduate Institute of Medicine and Department of Public Health and Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
³ Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
⁵ School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
⁶ Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan , Taiwan.
⁷ Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
⁸ Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Abstract

Background: Metabolic alterations correlate with adverse outcomes in type 2 diabetes. Dietary modification serves as an integral part in its treatment.

Objective: We examined the relationships among dietary patterns, dietary biomarkers, and metabolic indicators in type 2 diabetes (n = 871).

Design: Diabetic patients (n = 871) who provided complete clinical and dietary data in both 2008 and 2009 were selected from a cohort participating in a diabetic control study in Taiwan. Dietary data were obtained using a short, semiquantitative food frequency questionnaires, and dietary pattern identified by factor analysis. Multiple linear regressions were used to analyze the association between dietary biomarkers (ferritin, folate, and erythrocyte n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids [n-3 PUFAs]) and metabolic control upon adjusting for confounders.

Results: Three dietary patterns (high-fat meat, traditional Chinese food-snack, and fish-vegetable) were identified. Ferritin correlated positively with high-fat meat factor scores (P for trend <0.001). Erythrocyte n-3 PUFAs (eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] + docosahexaenoic acid [DHA], n-3/n-6 PUFA ratio) correlated positively with fish-vegetable factor scores (all P for trends <0.001). Multiple linear regressions revealed a positive relationship between ferritin concentrations and fasting plasma glucose (FPG), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and triglycerides, but a negative relationship with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Erythrocyte n-3 PUFA, EPA+DHA, and n-3/n-6 PUFA ratio were negatively linked to FPG, HbA1c, and triglycerides (all P < 0.05) and positively with HDL-C (though n-3/n-6 ratio marginally correlated).

Conclusions: Ferritin and n-3 PUFA can serve as valid biomarkers for high-fat meat and fish-vegetable dietary patterns. Unlike ferritin, erythrocyte n-3 PUFA status was related to better glycemic and blood lipid profiles. Our results suggest that habitual consumption of diet pattern rich in fish and vegetables may contribute in part to a healthier metabolic profile in type 2 diabetes.

Keywords: Taiwan; dietary pattern; ferritin; n-3 PUFA; type 2 diabetes.