Objective: To evaluate the association between serum concentrations of complement factor-3 (C3) with anthropometric, biochemical, and lifestyle features in healthy young adults.
Methods: From 157 young healthy adults 18 to 35 y old, anthropometric measurements and body composition, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and lifestyle data were collected and analyzed. Blood samples were collected after a 12-h fast for the determination of glucose, triacylglycerols, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, insulin, C3, ceruloplasmin, and uric acid.
Results: Complement factor-3 correlated directly with body mass index (r = 0.23417, P = 0.0032), body fat mass (bioelectrical impedance analysis; r = 0.33407, P < 0.0001), percentage of body fat (bioelectrical impedance analysis; r = 0.26873, P = 0.0007), waist circumference (r = 0.21266, P = 0.0075), insulin (r = 0.26152, P = 0.0009), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (r = 0.24831, P = 0.0017), total cholesterol (r = 0.23335, P = 0.0033), triacylglycerols (r = 0.38435, P < 0.0001), and other outcome measurements. In the multiple linear regression analysis, triacylglycerols (r(2) = 0.1379, P < 0.0001) and body fat mass (bioelectrical impedance analysis; r(2) = 0.0621, P = 0.0010) were independently associated with the C3 concentration after adjusting for age, gender, smoking status, and physical activity.
Conclusion: Complement factor-3 seems to be related to several anthropometric and biochemical measurements in healthy young adults. These results demonstrate an independent role of triacylglycerols, a component of the metabolic syndrome, and body fat mass as possible predictors of C3 concentrations. Thus, C3 can be used as an early marker for metabolic syndrome manifestations.
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