Body fat mass is correlated with serum transthyretin levels in maintenance hemodialysis patients

Abstract

: Serum transthyretin (TTR), also known as prealbumin, is a reliable nutritional indicator and an independent prognostic factor for maintenance hemodialysis patients. However, we recently reported that serum TTR levels did not affect protein−energy wasting (PEW). In this study, we investigated factors affecting serum TTR levels in 60 maintenance hemodialysis patients. The patients were divided into High-TTR and Low-TTR groups according to the median serum TTR level. Albumin levels were significantly higher and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were significantly lower in the High-TTR group than in the Low-TTR group. Although body fat mass was significantly higher in the High-TTR group than in the Low-TTR group, no significant difference in body fat ratio were observed. These findings suggest that body fat mass is related to serum TTR levels, apart from factors such as albumin and CRP levels, which showed correlations with serum TTR levels. Because body fat mass is related to better survival in maintenance hemodialysis patients, it may contribute to the prognostic value of serum TTR levels. In addition, in such patients, it may be important to evaluate body fat mass rather than body fat ratio and to maintain the minimum necessary body fat mass.

Range of plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in hemodialysis patients at a high risk of 1-year mortality and their relationship with the nutritional status: a retrospective cohort study in one institute

“…The half-life of transthyretin is 2-3 days, which is shorter than that of serum albumin. A decline in serum transthyretin levels by 10 g/dL over 6 months is a robust predictor of increased mortality [25,26]. The present results showed that a transthyretin level of less than 20 mg/dL was a high-risk factor.…”

Periodontal Disease in Patients Receiving Dialysis

“…We have no clear answer for these differing findings. However, besides nutritional status, serum albumin levels are regulated by various pathological conditions including aortic calcification, peptic ulcer diseases, and body fat mass [45,46,47]. Furthermore, we should note the method of statistical analysis used for each study.…”

Global Transcriptome Analysis During Adipogenic Differentiation and Involvement of Transthyretin Gene in Adipogenesis in Cattle

“…TTR is a carrier protein and it was hypothesized that TTR could transfer the active components from chylomicrons to adipocytes, thereby stimulating the acylation stimulating protein, a potent stimulator of adipocyte triacylglycerol storage in adipocytes ( Scantlebury et al, 1998 ). Also, Matsuura found body fat mass is correlated with serum TTR levels in maintenance hemodialysis patients ( Matsuura et al, 2017 ). In our study, we found overexpression of TTR to promote PPARγ and FABP4 expression during bovine adipocyte differentiation, and to promote the formation of lipid droplets.…”