Poster Presentation ANZBMS-MEPSA-ANZORS 2022

Increased circulating levels of lipocalin-2 are associated with increased risk of metabolic syndrome the Perth longitudinal study of aging women (#225)

Carlie Bauer 1 , Marc Sim 2 3 , Richard L Prince 2 4 , Kun (Kathy) Zhu 2 4 , Ee Mun M Lim 4 5 , Nathan Pavlos 6 , Wai H Lim 2 7 , Germaine Wong 8 , Joshua R Lewis 2 3 8 , Itamar Levinger 1 9
  1. Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Footscray, Victoria, Australia
  2. Medical School, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
  3. Nutrition & Health Innovation Research Institute, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, Australia
  4. Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia
  5. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Perth, WA, Australia
  6. Biomedical School, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
  7. Department of Renal Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia
  8. Centre for Kidney Research, Children's Hospital at Westmead School of Public Health, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  9. Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science (AIMSS), Victoria University, University of Melbourne and Western Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Background: Lipocalin-2 (LCN2) is expressed by several tissues including osteoblasts, neutrophils and adipocytes. LCN2 is implicated in satiety control, energy regulation and cardio-metabolic health, suggesting a cross-talk between bone and other organs. However, it is unclear whether LCN2 is linked to metabolic syndrome (MetS) in older women.

Method: 781 community-dwelling older women were included in this cross-sectional study. Total circulating LCN2 levels was analysed in plasma using a two-step chemiluminescent microparticle monoclonal immunoassay on an automated platform (Abbott Diagnostics, Longford, Ireland). MetS was determined by a modified National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III classification. Women with diabetes were not included in MetS analysis. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression was used to assess the association between quartiles of LCN2 and MetS (yes/no).

Results: Participants had a mean age of 75.1 ± 2.6 years and body mass index 26.9 ± 4.3 kg/m2. Women in the highest LCN2 Quartile (Q4, median 115.8 mg/L) had approximately 3 times (OR 3.05; 95%CI 1.86-5.02) greater odds for MetS compared to women in Q1 (median 55.6 mg/L) . Higher LCN2 was correlated with increased MetS score (rho=0.24, p<0.001). Women with MetS (score 3+) and type 2 diabetes (n=76, median = 82.7 mg/L) had higher circulating levels of LCN2 compared to those with a MetS score of 0 (n=84) (p<0.05 for all).

Conclusion: Higher circulating levels of LCN2 are a risk factor for MetS in older women. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether LCN2 can be used in clinical practice to identify older women at risk of developing MetS.