Lipopolysaccharide binding protein,obesity status and incidence of metabolic syndrome: a prospective study among middle-aged and older Chinese

Aims/hypothesis

Although microbiota-derived endotoxaemia has previously been shown to induce metabolic disorders, data from population-based longitudinal studies are scarce. This study therefore investigated the associations between lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) levels and 6 year incident metabolic syndrome (MetS), as well as the potentially modifying effects of obesity status in middle-aged and older Chinese men and women.

Methods

A total of 2,529 men and women aged 50–70 years from Beijing and Shanghai, China, were followed for 6 years. Those free of MetS at baseline (1,312) were included in the analyses for the risk of developing MetS. Baseline plasma LBP was measured using an ELISA kit.

Results

During the 6 year follow-up, 449 (34.2%) participants developed MetS. Baseline LBP was significantly associated with BMI, waist circumference, blood lipid profile and C-reactive protein (CRP) both at baseline and during follow-up (all p?p _trend?=?0.002), but not in their overweight/obese counterparts (RR, comparing extreme tertiles, 0.99; 95% CI 0.80, 1.22; p _trend?=?0.880). A significant interaction was observed between LBP and obesity status (p _interaction?=?0.013).

Conclusions/interpretation

Our study suggested that elevated plasma LBP was associated with an increased risk of developing MetS among middle-aged and older Chinese, especially in normal-weight individuals.