Plasma creatine, estimated intramuscular creatine, transcellular gradient and the risk of mortality: Results from the PREVEND study.

Background: Creatine, an endogenous compound essential for energy metabolism and cellular function, has been associated with numerous beneficial effects in sports and overall health. Here, we investigated relationships between plasma creatine concentration, estimated intramuscular creatine concentration, and all-cause mortality in the general population.

Methods: In a Dutch prospective population-based cohort, plasma creatine concentration, 24-h urinary creatinine excretion and muscle mass (assessed with bio-electrical impedance analysis) were measured in 5127 participants.

Potential Health Benefits of Dietary Tree Nut and Peanut Enrichment in Kidney Transplant Recipients-An In-Depth Narrative Review and Considerations for Future Research.

Kidney transplant recipients face a substantial burden of premature mortality and morbidity, primarily due to persistent inflammation, cardiovascular risk, and nutritional deficiencies. Traditional nutritional interventions in this population have either focused on supplementing individual nutrients-often with limited efficacy-or required comprehensive dietary overhauls that compromise patient adherence. In this narrative review, we explore the rationale for dietary nut enrichment as a feasible, multi-nutrient strategy tailored to the needs of kidney transplant recipients.

Plasma creatine, estimated intramuscular creatine and risk of mortality in stable kidney transplant recipients: Results from the TransplantLines biobank and cohort study.

Background: Kidney transplant recipients (KTR) have reduced survival rates compared to the general population. Creatine is an endogenous nitrogenous organic acid, essential for energy metabolism. This study investigates sex stratified plasma creatine and estimated intramuscular creatine concentrations, and their transmembrane cellular gradient in relation to mortality in KTR.

Circulating Citrate is Elevated During Profound Hypothyroidism: An Observational Study.

We conducted an observational study on how profound hypothyroidism affects circulating citrate, a potential biomarker of mitochondrial dysfunction linked to mortality. Sixteen differentiated thyroid carcinoma patients were first studied during hypothyroidism, 4-6 weeks after total thyroidectomy, and subsequently after 20 weeks of thyroid hormone supplementation. 5 patients were also studied during euthyroidism, before total thyroidectomy.

Circulating FGF21 and Ketone Bodies Modify the Risk of MASLD and Mortality: Insights from the PREVEND Cohort Study.

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) and ketone bodies are markers of metabolic dysregulation, independently associated with metabolic-dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and mortality. We studied their interaction with MASLD and all-cause mortality in 6025 participants from the Prevention of Renal and Vascular End-stage Disease (PREVEND) cohort. Plasma FGF21 (immunoassay) and ketone body concentrations (nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy) were measured at baseline.

Plasma Beta-Hydroxybutyrate and All-Cause Mortality in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis.

Liver cirrhosis is often accompanied by metabolic dysfunction. Circulating β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), the most abundant ketone body, is an emerging metabolic biomarker of mitochondrial dysfunction. In this prospective observational study, we evaluated plasma BHB concentrations in patients with cirrhosis compared to the general population and investigated their association with all-cause mortality in cirrhosis.

Higher circulating FGF21, lower protein intake, and lower muscle mass: Associations with a higher risk of mortality.

Background And Objectives: This population-based study explores associations of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), a key modulator of processes linked to protein metabolism, with protein intake and muscle mass, and their relationships with all-cause mortality.

Methods: In 6395 participants (mean age 54 years; 50% women), circulating FGF21 (immunoassay), protein intake (Maroni equation using 24-h urinary urea excretion; low intake defined as <0.8 g/kg/day), and muscle mass (24-h creatinine excretion rate indexed to height squared (CERI)) were documented.

Hypothyroidism consequent to thyroidectomy is associated with elevated remnant lipoproteins and cholesterol enrichment of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins: an observational study.

Background: Hypothyroidism may affect triglyceride-rich lipoprotein (TRL) subfractions and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and their averaged sizes. The present study aimed to determine whether increases in remnant particles were larger than other TRL subfractions and whether changes in remnant particles were related to changes in the TRL cholesterol/triglyceride ratio.

Methods: An observational study was conducted to assess the impact of short term (4-6 weeks) hypothyroidism consequent to thyroidectomy on TRL subfractions, including remnant lipoproteins, LDL subfractions, and the TRL cholesterol and triglyceride content.

Muscle Mass, Muscle Strength, and Health-Related Quality of Life in Kidney Transplant Recipients: Results of the TransplantLines Biobank and Cohort Study.

Introduction: Muscles are crucial for daily activities, and kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) often have reduced muscle mass and strength. We aimed to investigate the potential relationship of muscle mass and strength with physical health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in KTRs.

Methods: Data from the TransplantLines Biobank and Cohort Studies were used.

Creatinine clearance/eGFR ratio: a simple index for muscle mass related to mortality in ICU patients.

Introduction: In patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), muscle mass is inversely associated with mortality. Although muscle mass can be estimated with 24-h urinary creatinine excretion (UCE), its use for risk prediction in individual patients is limited because age-, sex-, weight- and length-specific reference values for UCE are lacking. The ratio between measured creatinine clearance (mCC) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) might circumvent this constraint.

Association between objectively measured protein intake and muscle status, health-related quality of life, and mortality in hemodialysis patients.

Background: Protein intake is known to be associated with muscle mass, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and mortality in patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis. However, most studies evaluated protein intake based on 24 h dietary recall or food frequency questionnaire, and these methods are prone to bias. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the association of objectively measured protein intake with muscle mass and strength, HRQoL, and mortality.

Creatinine, cystatin C, muscle mass, and mortality: Findings from a primary and replication population-based cohort.

Background: Serum creatinine is used as initial test to derive eGFR and confirmatory testing with serum cystatin C is recommended when creatinine-based eGFR is considered less accurate due to deviant muscle mass. Low muscle mass is associated with increased risk of premature mortality. However, the associations of serum creatinine and cystatin C with muscle mass and mortality remain unclear and require further investigation to better inform clinical decision-making.

Creatine homeostasis and the kidney: comparison between kidney transplant recipients and healthy controls.

Creatine is a natural nitrogenous organic acid that is integral to energy metabolism and crucial for proper cell functioning. The kidneys are involved in the first step of creatine production. With kidney transplantation being the gold-standard treatment for end-stage kidney disease, kidney transplant recipients (KTR) may be at risk of impaired creatine synthesis.

Iron deficiency, anemia, and patient-reported outcomes in kidney transplant recipients.

Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) experience more fatigue, anxiety, and depressive symptoms and lower concentration and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) compared with the general population. Anemia is a potential cause that is well-recognized and treated. Iron deficiency, however, is often unrecognized, despite its potential detrimental effects related to and unrelated to anemia.

Health-related quality of life is linked to the gut microbiome in kidney transplant recipients.

Kidney transplant recipients (KTR) have impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and suffer from intestinal dysbiosis. Increasing evidence shows that gut health and HRQoL are tightly related in the general population. Here, we investigate the association between the gut microbiome and HRQoL in KTR, using metagenomic sequencing data from fecal samples collected from 507 KTR.

Creatine and creatinine quantified using nuclear magnetic resonance: A method validation study and clinical associations between circulating creatine and fatigue in kidney transplant recipients.

Background: A potential contributor to fatigue in kidney transplant recipients (KTR) may be impaired creatine homeostasis. We developed and validated a high-throughput NMR assay allowing for simultaneous measurement of circulating creatine and creatinine, and determined plasma creatine and estimated intramuscular creatine concentrations in KTRs, delineated their determinants and explored their associations with self-reported fatigue.

Methods: An NMR assay was developed and validated for measurement of circulating creatinine and creatine concentrations.

Urinary Copper Excretion Is Associated with Long-Term Graft Failure in Kidney Transplant Recipients.

Introduction: In chronic kidney disease, proteinuria increases urinary copper excretion, inducing oxidative tubular damage and worsening kidney function. We investigated whether this phenomenon occurred in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). In addition, we studied the associations of urinary copper excretion with the biomarker of oxidative tubular damage urinary liver-type fatty-acid binding protein (u-LFABP) and death-censored graft failure.

Low selenium intake is associated with risk of all-cause mortality in kidney transplant recipients.

Background: Deficiency of the essential trace element selenium is common in kidney transplant recipients (KTR), potentially hampering antioxidant and anti-inflammatory defence. Whether this impacts the long-term outcomes of KTR remains unknown. We investigated the association of urinary selenium excretion, a biomarker of selenium intake, with all-cause mortality; and its dietary determinants.

Muscle mass, muscle strength and mortality in kidney transplant recipients: results of the TransplantLines Biobank and Cohort Study.

Background: Survival of kidney transplant recipients (KTR) is low compared with the general population. Low muscle mass and muscle strength may contribute to lower survival, but practical measures of muscle status suitable for routine care have not been evaluated for their association with long-term survival and their relation with each other in a large cohort of KTR.

Methods: Data of outpatient KTR ≥ 1 year post-transplantation, included in the TransplantLines Biobank and Cohort Study (ClinicalTrials.

Plasma Copper Concentration Is Associated with Cardiovascular Mortality in Male Kidney Transplant Recipients.

Kidney transplant recipients (KTR) are at increased risk of cardiovascular mortality. We investigated whether, in KTR, post-transplantation copper status is associated with the risk of cardiovascular mortality and potential effect modification by sex. In this cohort study, plasma copper was measured using mass spectrometry in extensively-phenotyped KTR with a functioning allograft >1-year.