Publications (10) View all
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Article: Neopterin and kynurenine-tryptophan ratio as predictors of coronary events in older adults, the Hordaland Health Study.
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ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Immune system activation is involved in atherosclerosis. Neopterin production and tryptophan catabolism through the kynurenine pathway, measured by the kynurenine-tryptophan ratio (KTR), are induced by interferon gamma, thus both are considered markers of cell mediated immune activation. This study prospectively investigated their predictive value on acute coronary events among Norwegian community-dwelling older adults without previous coronary heart disease. METHODS: 1112 men and 1631 women, 71-74years old were examined during 1997-99 as part of the Hordaland Health Study. They were followed until an acute coronary event (defined as unstable angina, non-fatal or fatal acute myocardial infarction or sudden death) or December 31, 2006. Kaplan-Meier hazard curves were constructed for quartiles of plasma neopterin and KTR. Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for sex, body mass index, smoking, hypertension, renal function and cholesterol were used to examine the relation between neopterin and KTR quartiles and the study endpoint. RESULTS: Median (interquartile range) values were 8.6 (7.2-10.4) nmol/L for neopterin and 25.8 (25.3-31.1) nmol/μmol for KTR. During the follow up, 265 participants had at least one acute coronary event. Increased baseline levels of plasma neopterin and KTR were associated with continuous increased risk of developing the study endpoint (P-values for trend <0.001 and 0.019, respectively). Adjusted hazard ratios comparing the fourth quartile to the first were 1.65 (95% CI; 1.11-2.47; P=0.013) for neopterin and 1.57 (95% CI 1.03-2.39; P=0.036) for KTR. CONCLUSION: Plasma neopterin and KTR levels predict acute coronary events in older adults without previous coronary heart disease.International journal of cardiology 01/2013; · 7.08 Impact Factor -
Article: North-south gradients in plasma concentrations of B-vitamins and other components of one-carbon metabolism in Western Europe: results from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) Study.
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ABSTRACT: Different lifestyle patterns across Europe may influence plasma concentrations of B-vitamins and one-carbon metabolites and their relation to chronic disease. Comparison of published data on one-carbon metabolites in Western European regions is difficult due to differences in sampling procedures and analytical methods between studies. The present study aimed, to compare plasma concentrations of one-carbon metabolites in Western European regions with one laboratory performing all biochemical analyses. We performed the present study in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort among 5446 presumptively healthy individuals. Quantile regression was used to compare sex-specific median concentrations between Northern (Denmark and Sweden), Central (France, Germany, The Netherlands and United Kingdom) and Southern (Greece, Spain and Italy) European regions. The lowest folate concentrations were observed in Northern Europe (men, 10·4 nmol/l; women, 10·7 nmol/l) and highest concentrations in Central Europe. Cobalamin concentrations were slightly higher in Northern Europe (men, 330 pmol/l; women, 352 pmol/l) compared with Central and Southern Europe, but did not show a clear north-south gradient. Vitamin B2 concentrations were highest in Northern Europe (men, 22·2 nmol/l; women, 26·0 nmol/l) and decreased towards Southern Europe (P trend < 0·001). Vitamin B6 concentrations were highest in Central Europe in men (77·3 nmol/l) and highest in the North among women (70·4 nmol/l), with decreasing concentrations towards Southern Europe in women (P trend < 0·001). In men, concentrations of serine, glycine and sarcosine increased from the north to south. In women, sarcosine increased from Northern to Southern Europe. These findings may provide relevant information for the study of regional differences of chronic disease incidence in association with lifestyle.The British journal of nutrition 12/2012; · 3.45 Impact Factor -
Article: Plasma vitamins B2, B6, and B12, and related genetic variants as predictors of colorectal cancer risk.
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ABSTRACT: B-vitamins are essential for one-carbon metabolism and have been linked to colorectal cancer. Although associations with folate have frequently been studied, studies on other plasma vitamins B2, B6, and B12 and colorectal cancer are scarce or inconclusive. We carried out a nested case-control study within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition, including 1,365 incident colorectal cancer cases and 2,319 controls matched for study center, age, and sex. We measured the sum of B2 species riboflavin and flavin mononucleotide, and the sum of B6 species pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, pyridoxal, and 4-pyridoxic acid as indicators for vitamin B2 and B6 status, as well as vitamin B12 in plasma samples collected at baseline. In addition, we determined eight polymorphisms related to one-carbon metabolism. Relative risks for colorectal cancer were estimated using conditional logistic regression, adjusted for smoking, education, physical activity, body mass index, alcohol consumption, and intakes of fiber and red and processed meat. The relative risks comparing highest to lowest quintile were 0.71 [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.56-0.91; P(trend) = 0.02] for vitamin B2, 0.68 (95% CI, 0.53-0.87; P(trend) <0.001) for vitamin B6, and 1.02 (95% CI, 0.80-1.29; P(trend) = 0.19) for vitamin B12. The associations for vitamin B6 were stronger in males who consumed ≥30 g alcohol/day. The polymorphisms were not associated with colorectal cancer. Higher plasma concentrations of vitamins B2 and B6 are associated with a lower colorectal cancer risk. This European population-based study is the first to indicate that vitamin B2 is inversely associated with colorectal cancer, and is in agreement with previously suggested inverse associations of vitamin B6 with colorectal cancer.Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention 10/2010; 19(10):2549-61. · 4.12 Impact Factor -
Article: Plasma folate, related genetic variants, and colorectal cancer risk in EPIC.
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ABSTRACT: A potential dual role of folate in colorectal cancer (CRC) is currently subject to debate. We investigate the associations between plasma folate, several relevant folate-related polymorphisms, and CRC risk within the large European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort. In this nested case-control study, 1,367 incident CRC cases were matched to 2,325 controls for study center, age, and sex. Risk ratios (RR) were estimated with conditional logistic regression and adjusted for smoking, education, physical activity, and intake of alcohol and fiber. Overall analyses did not reveal associations of plasma folate with CRC. The RR (95% confidence interval; Ptrend) for the fifth versus the first quintile of folate status was 0.94 (0.74-1.20; 0.44). The polymorphisms MTHFR677C-->T, MTHFR1298A-->C, MTR2756A-->G, MTRR66A-->G, and MTHFD11958G-->A were not associated with CRC risk. However, in individuals with the lowest plasma folate concentrations, the MTHFR 677TT genotype showed a statistically nonsignificant increased CRC risk [RR (95% CI; Ptrend) TT versus CC=1.39 (0.87-2.21); 0.12], whereas those with the highest folate concentrations showed a nonsignificant decreased CRC risk [RR TT versus CC=0.74 (0.39-1.37); 0.34]. The SLC19A180G-->A showed a positive association with CRC risk [RR AA versus GG 1.30 (1.06-1.59); <0.01]. This large European prospective multicenter study did not show an association of CRC risk with plasma folate status nor with MTHFR polymorphisms. Findings of the present study tend to weaken the evidence that folate plays an important role in CRC carcinogenesis. However, larger sample sizes are needed to adequately address potential gene-environment interactions.Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention 05/2010; 19(5):1328-40. · 4.12 Impact Factor -
Article: Vitamins B2 and B6 and genetic polymorphisms related to one-carbon metabolism as risk factors for gastric adenocarcinoma in the European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition.
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ABSTRACT: B vitamins and polymorphisms in genes coding for enzymes involved in one-carbon metabolism may affect DNA synthesis and methylation and thereby be implicated in carcinogenesis. Previous data on vitamins B2 and B6 and genetic polymorphisms other than those involving MTHFR as risk factors for gastric cancer (GC) are sparse and inconsistent. In this case-control study nested within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort, cases (n = 235) and controls (n = 601) were matched for study center, age, sex, and time of blood sampling. B2 and B6 species were measured in plasma, and the sum of riboflavin and flavin mononucleotide was used as the main exposure variable for vitamin B2 status, whereas the sum of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, pyridoxal, and 4-pyridoxic acid was used to define vitamin B6 status. In addition, we determined eight polymorphisms related to one-carbon metabolism. Relative risks for GC risk were calculated with conditional logistic regression, adjusted for Helicobacter pylori infection status and smoking status. Adjusted relative risks per quartile (95% confidence interval, P(trend)) were 0.85 (0.72-1.01, 0.06) for vitamin B2 and 0.78 (0.65-0.93, <0.01) for vitamin B6. Both relations were stronger in individuals with severe chronic atrophic gastritis. The polymorphisms were not associated with GC risk and did not modify the observed vitamin-cancer associations. In summary, results from this large European cohort study showed an inverse association between vitamin B2 and GC risk, which is borderline significant, and a significant inverse association between vitamin B6 and GC risk.Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention 01/2010; 19(1):28-38. · 4.12 Impact Factor
