Circulating amino acids and cardiometabolic risk profile in offspring of women with type 1 diabetes: cross-sectional case-control study

TL;DR

This study found no significant differences in amino acid levels or cardiometabolic risk between young adults whose mothers had type 1 diabetes and controls.

Contribution

The study is the first to examine amino acid profiles in offspring of women with type 1 diabetes for cardiometabolic risk.

Findings

No differences in cardiometabolic risk factors were found between the two groups.

Circulating amino acid levels were similar in offspring of women with type 1 diabetes and controls.

A higher glucogenic score was observed in overweight case men compared to controls.

Abstract

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are known to be associated with cardiovascular disease risk in adults. The aim of this study is to investigate whether an increased cardiometabolic risk profile can be observed in the amino acid profile of young adult offspring of women with type 1 diabetes. This cross-sectional case-control study included 73 offspring born to women with type 1 diabetes (cases) and 82 control participants (controls). At the age of 18–23 years, they participated in a clinical assessment including laboratory tests and questionnaires. Amino acid levels were analyzed from venous serum samples after 10 h of fasting using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. No differences in cardiovascular disease or cardiometabolic risk factors were observed between the cases and the controls. Circulating amino acid levels were similar in both groups. The glucogenic score (combined alanine, glycine) was higher in overweight case men (case versus controls adjusted p = 0.015 (mean ratio 1.25 [95% CI 1.11 to 1.49]). The present findings do not support our hypothesis that serum amino acid profiles, determined in early adulthood, are associated with a more adverse cardiometabolic risk profile in offspring of women with type 1 diabetes. Further studies are warranted to clarify the potential role of amino acids in the development of cardiovascular disease in offspring of women with type 1 diabetes.

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