Relationships of Dietary Histidine and Obesity in Northern Chinese Adults, an Internet-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Our previous studies have demonstrated that histidine supplementation significantly ameliorates inflammation and oxidative stress in obese women and high-fat diet-induced obese rats. However, the effects of dietary histidine on general population are not known. The objective of this Internet-based cross-sectional study was to evaluate the associations between dietary histidine and prevalence of overweight/obesity and abdominal obesity in northern Chinese population. A total of 2376 participants were randomly recruited and asked to finish our Internet-based dietary questionnaire for the Chinese (IDQC). Afterwards, 88 overweight/obese participants were randomly selected to explore the possible mechanism. Compared with healthy controls, dietary histidine was significantly lower in overweight (p < 0.05) and obese (p < 0.01) participants of both sexes. Dietary histidine was inversely associated with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and blood pressure in overall population and stronger associations were observed in women and overweight/obese participants. Higher dietary histidine was associated with lower prevalence of overweight/obesity and abdominal obesity, especially in women. Further studies indicated that higher dietary histidine was associated with lower fasting blood glucose (FBG), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), 2-h postprandial glucose (2 h-PG), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), malonaldehyde (MDA) and vaspin and higher glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and adiponectin of overweight/obese individuals of both sexes. In conclusion, higher dietary histidine is inversely associated with energy intake, status of insulin resistance, inflammation and oxidative stress in overweight/obese participants and lower prevalence of overweight/obesity in northern Chinese adults.

Role of dietary histidine in the prevention of obesity and metabolic syndrome

“…The clinical relevance of these findings is further suggested by evidence that use of prescription antihistamines (H1 blockers), or of antipsychotic drugs that also inhibit H1, is associated with an increased risk for obesity 8 16. Of related interest is a recent Chinese cross-sectional epidemiology correlating dietary histidine inversely with BMI, waist circumference and various markers of metabolic syndrome, in both sexes; this finding remained valid whether daily histidine intake was expressed in absolute terms, or after adjustment for protein and other dietary values 17. In a cross-sectional study enrolling female Japanese students, daily histidine intake, as well as the ratio to histidine to total dietary protein, correlated inversely with daily calorie intake after adjustment for other dietary factors18; this finding evidently is consistent with the possibility that increased brain histidine uptake can aid appetite control in humans, as it does in rodents.…”

Abdominal Fat in Individuals with Overweight Reduced by Consumption of a 1975 Japanese Diet: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…The uptake of pyridoxamine decreased the level of HbA1c in type 2 diabetes patients , and the intake of polyphenolic citrus dry extract containing naringin promoted lipolysis and reduced BMI and body fat percentage . Dietary histidine showed an inverse correlation with BMI, peritoneal circumference, blood pressure, HOMA‐IR, and CRP .…”

Associations between Dietary Nutrient Intakes and Hepatic Lipid Contents in NAFLD Patients Quantified by 1H-MRS and Dual-Echo MRI

“…All participants were instructed to complete an IDQC, to record demographic data, lifestyles, and dietary habits for the most recent four months [ 17 , 18 ]. The absolute amounts of nutrient intakes were measured based on IDQC.…”