Ceramide Risk Score in the Evaluation of Metabolic Syndrome: An Additional or Substitutive Biochemical Marker in the Clinical Practice?

Bibliographic Details
Title: Ceramide Risk Score in the Evaluation of Metabolic Syndrome: An Additional or Substitutive Biochemical Marker in the Clinical Practice?
Authors: Rigamonti, Antonello E., Dei Cas, Michele, Caroli, Diana, Bondesan, Adele, Cella, Silvano G., Paroni, Rita, Sartorio, Alessandro
Source: International Journal of Molecular Sciences; Aug2023, Vol. 24 Issue 15, p12452, 13p
Subject Terms: DISEASE risk factors, METABOLIC syndrome, BIOMARKERS, RISK assessment, CERAMIDES
Company/Entity: INTERNATIONAL Diabetes Federation
Abstract: Ceramide risk score (CERT1, ceramide test 1), based on specific ceramides (Cers) and their corresponding ratios in the plasma, has been reported as a promising biochemical marker for primary and secondary prediction of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in different populations of patients. Thus far, limited attention has been paid to metabolic syndrome, a condition considered at high CVD risk. The aim of the present study was to evaluate CERT1 in a group of obese subjects without (OB-MetS−) and with (OB-MetS+) metabolic syndrome (according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) diagnostic criteria), compared to an age- and sex-matched normal-weight (NW) group. In all participants, plasma levels of Cer 16:0, Cer 18:0, Cer 24:1, and Cer 24:0 were measured, and the corresponding ratios Cer 16:0/24:0, Cer 18:0/24:0, and Cer 24:1/24:0 were calculated together with CERT1. Subjects with obesity showed higher CERT1 values than the NW group (p < 0.05), with no difference between OB-MetS− and OB-MetS+ groups. Waist circumference (WC), homeostatic model assessment of insulin-resistance (HOMA-IR) (surrogates of IDF diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome), and C reactive protein (CRP) (a marker of inflammation) were predictors of CERT1 (p < 0.05), with the contribution of the other IDF criteria such as arterial hypertension and dyslipidemia being negligible. Adjustment for WC resulted in a loss of the difference in CERT1 between OB-MetS− and NW subjects, with the combination of WC and HOMA-IR or CRP as covariates being necessary to yield the same effect for the difference in CERT1 between OB-MetS+ and NW subjects. Importantly, an association was found between CERT1 and vascular age (VA) (p < 0.05). Proportions of NW, OB-MetS− and OB-MetS+ subjects appeared to be distributed according to the CERT1-based risk groups (i.e., low, moderate, increased, and high risk; p < 0.05), with some OB-MetS− subjects included in the increased/high-risk group and some OB-MetS+ in the low/moderate-risk one. In conclusion, the clinical diagnosis of metabolic syndrome seems to be inaccurate to assess CVD risk in the obese population; however, further studies are needed before considering CERT1 as an additional or substitutive biochemical marker in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Complementary Index
More Details
ISSN:16616596
DOI:10.3390/ijms241512452
Published in:International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Language:English