Editorial: The Role of Genetic and Lifestyle Factors in Metabolic Diseases

Age Influences on Lifestyle and Stress Perception in the Working Population

Workplace health promotion programs and services offered by insurers may play a fundamental role to foster health/well-being and to prevent chronic diseases. To this end, they should be tailored to companies/employees’ requirements and characteristics. In particular, age needs to be taken into account, considering both that young age workers are generally healthy, and that young age is the best period in lifespan to address prevention and instilling healthy behaviors. We employed an anonymous, simple web-based questionnaire (filled out by 1305 employees) which furnishes data regarding lifestyle (nutrition, exercise, smoking, stress, sleep, etc.), some of which were used to build a unique descriptor (Lifestyle Index; 0−100 higher scores being healthier). We considered three subgroups accordingly to age: ≤30; between 30 and 50; >50 years. This study showed age influences lifestyle and stress perception in the working population: the youngest employees (both men and women) presented the worst lifestyle index, particularly in its stress component. This observation may potentially be useful to tailor workplace health promotion programs and to personalize insurance protocols and services offered to employees. The practical message of our study is that in healthy young people focusing only on medical parameters (frequently within normal ranges in this cohort), albeit important, may be not sufficient to foster proactive actions to prevent chronic non-communicable diseases in adult life. Vice versa, driving their attention on current behaviors might elicit their proactive role to improve lifestyle, getting immediate advantages such as well-being improvement and the possibility to best manage stress.

Modulation of Intestinal Flora by Dietary Polysaccharides: A Novel Approach for the Treatment and Prevention of Metabolic Disorders

Intestinal flora is numerous and diverse, and play a key role in maintaining human health. Dietary polysaccharides are widely present in the daily diet and have a moderating effect on the intestinal flora. Past studies have confirmed that intestinal flora is involved in the metabolic process in the human body, and the change in intestinal flora structure is closely related to the metabolic disorders in the human body. Therefore, regulating intestinal flora through dietary polysaccharides is an effective way to treat and prevent common metabolic diseases and has great research value. However, this area has not received enough attention. In this review, we provide an overview of the modulatory effects of dietary polysaccharides on intestinal flora and the key role of intestinal flora in improving metabolic disorders in humans. In addition, we highlight the therapeutic and preventive effects of intestinal flora modulation through dietary polysaccharides on metabolic disorders, aiming to find new ways to treat metabolic disorders and facilitate future exploration in this field.

The susceptibility of SERPINE1 rs1799889 SNP in diabetic vascular complications: a meta-analysis of fifty-one case-control studies

BACKGROUND

The serine protease inhibitor-1 (SERPINE1) rs1799889 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) has been constantly associated with diabetes mellitus (DM) and its vascular complications. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate this association with combined evidences.

METHODS

The systematic search was performed for studies published up to March 2021 which assess the associations between SERPINE1 rs1799889 SNP and the risks of DM, diabetic retinopathy (DR), diabetic cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetic nephropathy (DN). Only case-control studies were identified, and the linkage between SERPINE1 rs1799889 polymorphism and diabetic vascular risks were evaluated using genetic models.

RESULTS

51 comparisons were enrolled. The results revealed a significant association with diabetes risk in overall population (allelic: OR = 1.34, 95 % CI = 1.14-1.57, homozygous: OR = 1.66, 95 % CI = 1.23-2.14, heterozygous: OR = 1.35, 95 % CI = 1.08-1.69, dominant: OR = 1.49, 95 % CI = 1.18-1.88, recessive: OR = 1.30, 95 % CI = 1.06-1.59) as well as in Asian descents (allelic: OR = 1.45, 95 % CI = 1.16-1.82, homozygous: OR = 1.88, 95 % CI = 1.29-2.75, heterozygous: OR = 1.47, 95 % CI = 1.08-2.00, dominant: OR = 1.64, 95 % CI = 1.21-2.24, recessive: OR = 1.46, 95 % CI = 1.09-1.96). A significant association was observed with DR risk (homozygous: OR = 1.25, 95 % CI = 1.01-1.56, recessive: OR = 1.20, 95 % CI = 1.01-1.43) for overall population, as for the European subgroup (homozygous: OR = 1.32, 95 % CI = 1.02-1.72, recessive: OR = 1.38, 95 % CI = 1.11-1.71). A significant association were shown with DN risk for overall population (allelic: OR = 1.48, 95 % CI = 1.15-1.90, homozygous: OR = 1.92, 95 % CI = 1.26-2.95, dominant: OR = 1.41, 95 % CI = 1.01-1.97, recessive: OR = 1.78, 95 % CI = 1.27-2.51) and for Asian subgroup (allelic: OR = 1.70, 95 % CI = 1.17-2.47, homozygous: OR = 2.46, 95 % CI = 1.30-4.66, recessive: OR = 2.24, 95 % CI = 1.40-3.59) after ethnicity stratification. No obvious association was implied with overall diabetic CVD risk in any genetic models, or after ethnicity stratification.

CONCLUSIONS

SERPINE1 rs1799889 4G polymorphism may outstand for serving as a genetic synergistic factor in overall DM and DN populations, positively for individuals with Asian descent. The association of SERPINE1 rs1799889 SNP and DR or diabetic CVD risks was not revealed.

A Cross-sectional study among Hospital Employees- Metabolic Syndrome and Shift Work

Introduction: Shift workers and metabolic syndrome are on the rise in developing nations. The link between Metabolic syndrome and shiftwork is not clear. This study aims to measure the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among shift workers and daytime workers and to assess the association between metabolic syndrome and shift work. Methods: Cross- sectional study was done in a South Indian hospital. Participants were selected via systematic random sampling between the age group of 25 -50 years. There were two study groups – day and shift workers. Sample size calculation was done with an alpha error of 0.05 and power of 80% to detect a 12.5% difference for metabolic syndrome prevalence between the two groups. Outcomes studied include the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and odds of developing metabolic syndrome among shift workers. The Chi-square test and independent t-test were the tests of significance used. The impact of relevant parameters on metabolic syndrome was assessed using univariate and multivariable analysis. Results: Eighty employees were studied in each group. At baseline, differences include; daytime workers were older in age, had a better quality of sleep, were less active physically, and consisted of more vegetarians. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome prevalence was thirty-three percent among the participants. The odds ratio (adjusted for relevant confounders) for shift workers to develop metabolic syndrome was 0.55 (95% CI 0.24 -1.29). Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in a third of the hospital employees studied. There was no statistical difference between shift and daytime workers for the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Increased awareness, screening, and preventive measures of the disease are recommended.Keywords: daytime, hospital, metabolic syndrome, shift work, sleep

Impact of Psychotropic Medication Effects on Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome in People With Serious Mental Illness

People with serious mental illness (SMI), including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder, have a higher mortality rate and shortened life expectancy. This is mainly attributable to physical diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Important risk factors for CVDs are obesity and other metabolic abnormalities, which are especially prevalent in people with SMI. Several factors contribute to this increased risk, including unhealthy lifestyles. Psychotropic medication independently further increases this risk. In this review we want to examine the relationship between obesity and other components of the metabolic syndrome and psychotropic medication in people with SMI.

Plasma Metabolomics Identifies Markers of Impaired Renal Function: A Meta-analysis of 3089 Persons with Type 2 Diabetes

CONTEXT

There is a need for novel biomarkers and better understanding of the pathophysiology of diabetic kidney disease.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate associations between plasma metabolites and kidney function in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

DESIGN

3089 samples from individuals with T2D, collected between 1999 and 2015, from 5 independent Dutch cohort studies were included. Up to 7 years follow-up was available in 1100 individuals from 2 of the cohorts.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Plasma metabolites (n = 149) were measured by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Associations between metabolites and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), and eGFR slopes were investigated in each study followed by random effect meta-analysis. Adjustments included traditional cardiovascular risk factors and correction for multiple testing.

RESULTS

In total, 125 metabolites were significantly associated (PFDR = 1.5×10-32 - 0.046; β = -11.98-2.17) with eGFR. Inverse associations with eGFR were demonstrated for branched-chain and aromatic amino acids (AAAs), glycoprotein acetyls, triglycerides (TGs), lipids in very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) subclasses, and fatty acids (PFDR < 0.03). We observed positive associations with cholesterol and phospholipids in high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and apolipoprotein A1 (PFDR < 0.05). Albeit some metabolites were associated with UACR levels (P < 0.05), significance was lost after correction for multiple testing. Tyrosine and HDL-related metabolites were positively associated with eGFR slopes before adjustment for multiple testing (PTyr = 0.003; PHDLrelated < 0.05), but not after.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified metabolites associated with impaired kidney function in T2D, implying involvement of lipid and amino acid metabolism in the pathogenesis. Whether these processes precede or are consequences of renal impairment needs further investigation.