African Ancestry Gradient Is Associated with Lower Systemic F2-Isoprostane Levels

Abstract EN

Context.

Low levels of systemic F2-isoprostanes (F2-IsoP) increase the risk of diabetes and weight gain and were found in African Americans.

Low F2-IsoPs could reflect an unfavorable metabolic characteristic, namely, slow mitochondrial metabolism in individuals with African ancestry.

Objective.

To examine differences in plasma F2-IsoPs in three groups with a priori different proportion of African ancestry: non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs), US-born African Americans (AAs), and West African immigrants (WAI).

Design.

Cross-sectional study.

Setting.

Georgia residents recruited from church communities.

Participants.

218 males and females 25–74 years of age, who are self-identified as NHW (n=83), AA (n=56), or WAI (n=79).

Main Outcome Measure(s).

Plasma F2-IsoPs quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Results.

After adjustment for age, gender, obesity, and other comorbidities, WAI had lower levels of plasma F2-IsoP than AA (beta-coefficient = −9.8, p<0.001) and AA had lower levels than NHW (beta-coefficient = −30.3, p<0.001).

Similarly, among healthy nonobese participants, F2-IsoP levels were lowest among WAI, followed by AA, and the highest levels were among NHW.

Conclusion.

Plasma F2-IsoPs are inversely associated with African ancestry gradient.

Additional studies are required to test whether optimization of systemic F2-IsoP levels can serve as means to improve race-specific lifestyle and pharmacological intervention targeted to obesity prevention and treatment.