Urinary 3-hydroxyisovaleryl carnitine excretion, protein energy malnutrition and risk of all-cause mortality in kidney transplant recipients: Results from the TransplantLines cohort studies
Adrian Post, M Yusof Said, Antonio W Gomes-Neto, Isidor Minović, Dion Groothof, J Casper Swarte, Theo Boer, Ido P Kema, M Rebecca Heiner-Fokkema, Casper F M Franssen, Stephan J L Bakker, Adrian Post, M Yusof Said, Antonio W Gomes-Neto, Isidor Minović, Dion Groothof, J Casper Swarte, Theo Boer, Ido P Kema, M Rebecca Heiner-Fokkema, Casper F M Franssen, Stephan J L Bakker
Abstract
Background: Leucine is an essential amino acid and a potent stimulator of muscle protein synthesis. Since muscle wasting is a major risk factor for mortality in kidney transplant recipients (KTR), dietary leucine intake might be linked to long-term mortality. Urinary 3-hydroxyisovaleryl carnitine (3-HIC) excretion, a functional marker of marginal biotin deficiency, may also serve as a marker for dietary leucine intake.
Objective: In this study we aimed to investigate the cross-sectional determinants of urinary 3-HIC excretion and to prospectively investigate the association of urinary 3-HIC excretion with all-cause mortality in KTR.
Design: Urinary 3-HIC excretion and plasma biotin were measured in a longitudinal cohort of 694 stable KTR. Cross-sectional and prospective analyses were performed using ordinary least squares linear regression analyses and Cox regression analyses, respectively.
Results: In KTR (57% male, 53 ± 13 years, estimated glomerular filtration rate 45 ± 19 mL/min/1.73 m2), urinary 3-HIC excretion (0.80 [0.57-1.16] μmol/24 h) was significantly associated with plasma biotin (std. β = -0.17; P < 0.001). Subsequent adjustment for potential covariates revealed urinary creatinine excretion (std. β = 0.24; P < 0.001) and urinary urea excretion (std. β = 0.53; P < 0.001) as the primary determinant of urinary 3-HIC excretion. Whereas plasma biotin explained only 1% of the variance in urinary 3-HIC excretion, urinary urea excretion explained >45%. During median follow-up for 5.4 [4.8-6.1] years, 150 (22%) patients died. Log2-transformed urinary 3-HIC excretion was inversely associated with all-cause mortality (HR: 0.52 [0.43-0.63]; P < 0.001). This association was independent of potential confounders.
Conclusions: Urinary 3-HIC excretion more strongly serves as a marker of leucine intake than of biotin status. A higher urinary 3-HIC excretion is associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality. Future studies are warranted to explore the underlying mechanism.
Trial registration id: NCT02811835. TRIAL REGISTRATION URL: https://ichgcp.net/clinical-trials-registry/NCT02811835.
Keywords: 3-Hydroxyisovaleryl carnitine; Biotin; Kidney transplant recipients; Leucine; Mortality.
Conflict of interest statement
Conflict of interest None of the authors declare a conflict of interest.
Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.
Source: PubMed