Association between β-amino-isobutyric acid (BAIBA) and cardiometabolic risk factors

BACKGROUND: Physical activity protects against chronic diseases. Preclinical studies suggest that circulating levels of the myokine beta-amino-isobutyric acid (BAIBA) may prevent obesity and improve cardiometabolic health.OBJECTIVE: To assess whether serum BAIBA is associated with physical activity, markers of cardiometabolic risk, and gender differences among young individuals.METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 80 university students. Anthropometry, blood pressure, lipid profile, fasting blood glucose (FBS), C-reactive protein, cortisol and physical activity (PA) were measured and analyzed against serum BAIBA levels.RESULTS: Average BAIBA levels were 1.57 +/- 0.61 mu M. Males had significantly larger waist (86.0 +/- 9.6 cm) and neck circumferences (38.6 +/- 2.5 cm), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (124.9 +/- 11.7 mmHg and 77.9 +/- 9.9 mmHg, respectively), FBS (84.6 +/- 7.5 mg/dL), cortisol (594.8 +/- 158.9 nmol/L) and PA levels than females. They also had significantly lower high-density lipoprotein (46.9 +/- 7.3 mg/dL). BAIBA concentrations in males and females were not significantly different. No significant association was found between BAIBA concentrations and nutritional, metabolic and functional parameters, except for diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in males (r = -0.35; p = 0.03).CONCLUSIONS: In healthy, young individuals, serum BAIBA levels were not related to nutritional status, metabolic status, and physical activity, but were inversely related to DBP in males only.