Association of plasma low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP1) with undernutrition: a case-control study in Bangladeshi adults

Abstract

Purpose

Studies revealed that silencing of low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP1) expression can cause inhibition of adipogenesis in animal model and contribute to reduced body size. But there is no study that has explored the association of LRP1 with body mass index (BMI) of human adults. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of LRP1 with undernutrition.

Methods

A total of 270 Bangladeshi slum-dwelling adults were enrolled as case control design. Their socio-economic, demographic, anthropometric and biomedical data were collected. Plasma LRP1, C-reactive protein (CRP), alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP) and ferritin levels were measured by ELISA, haemoglobin by HemoCue and zinc by atomic absorption spectrometry.

Results

The median (IQR) values of plasma LRP1 were 1673.1 (1382.5–1886.2) ng/mL in healthy participants and 707.7 (588.6–839.9) ng/mL in undernourished participants, respectively. A strong positive correlation (r = 0.70, p < 0.05) between LRP1 and BMI was found. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed a positive association between low plasma LRP1 (Adj. OR = 0.98, CI = 0.98, 0.99 and p < 0.05) and undernutrition.

Conclusions

The study found that increased level of LRP1 is associated with increased BMI, whereas lower level is associated with low BMI.

Keywords:

• LRP1
• malnutrition
• undernutrition
• adults
• Bangladesh

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all the participants and their parents for sharing their time and providing consent and information necessary for the successful completion of the study. The authors also acknowledge the contribution of icddr,b's core donors including Governments of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Canada, Sweden and UK for their continuous support and commitment to the icddr,b's research efforts.

Author contributions

TA conceptualized the study. MMH and SMF wrote the manuscript and analysed the data. SMF also designed the study and supervised the data collection. MMH and MAG did the laboratory analysis. SD critically reviewed the manuscript and developed the final version. MM, SMF involved in the development of study protocol. All authors commented on manuscript and approved the final version.

Disclosure statement

The authors declared no conflict of interests.

Data availability statement

The data set that was created during the study is not publicly available due to the restriction of funder. However, suggestion for data analysis can be made to corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported, in whole, by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation [Grant Number: OPP1136751]. Under the grant conditions of the Foundation, a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Generic License has already been assigned to the Author Accepted Manuscript version that might arise from this submission.