Yu Lianlong, Zheng Xiaodong, Li Jilan, Liu Changqing, Liu Yiya, Tian Meina, Zhu Qianrang, Tang Zhenchuang, Wu Maoyu
Jinan Fruit Research Institute, All-China Federation of Supply and Marketing Co-Operatives, Jinan 250014, China.
Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan 250014, China.
Nutrients. 2025 Jul 5;17(13):2235. doi: 10.3390/nu17132235.
High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is a protein that indicates inflammation and the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The intake of dietary amino acids can influence immune and inflammatory reactions. However, studies on the relationship between dietary amino acids and hs-CRP, especially in children, remain scarce. This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the Nutrition and China Children and Lactating Women Nutrition and Health Survey (2016-2019), focusing on 3514 children (724 with elevated hs-CRP ≥ 3 mg/L and 2790 with normal levels). Dietary information was gathered via a food frequency questionnaire, and hs-CRP levels were obtained from blood samples. Boruta algorithm and propensity scores were used to select and match dietary factors and sample sizes. Machine learning (ML) algorithms and logistic regression models assessed the link between amino acid intake and elevated hs-CRP risk, adjusting for age, sex, BMI, and lifestyle factors. The odds ratios (ORs) for elevated hs-CRP were significant for several amino acids, including Ile, Leu, Lys, Ser, Cys, Tyr, His, Pro, SAA, and AAA, with values ranging from 1.10 to 2.07. The LightGBM algorithm was the most effective in predicting elevated hs-CRP risk, achieving an AUC of 0.927. Tyrosine, methionine, cysteine, and proline were identified as important features by SHAP analysis and logistic regression. The intake of Ser, Cys, Tyr, and Pro showed a linear increase in the risk of elevated hs-CRP, especially in individuals with low protein intake and normal weight ( < 0.1). Intake of amino acids like Ser, Cys, Tyr, and Pro significantly impacts hs-CRP levels in children, indicating that regulating these could help prevent inflammation-related diseases. This study supports future dietary and health management strategies. This is first large-scale ML study linking amino acids to pediatric inflammation in China. The main limitations are the cross-section design and the use of self-reported dietary data.
高敏C反应蛋白（hs-CRP）是一种指示炎症和心血管疾病风险的蛋白质。膳食氨基酸的摄入会影响免疫和炎症反应。然而，关于膳食氨基酸与hs-CRP之间关系的研究，尤其是在儿童中的研究，仍然很少。这项横断面研究分析了营养与中国儿童及哺乳期妇女营养与健康调查（2016 - 2019年）的数据，重点关注3514名儿童（724名hs-CRP升高≥3mg/L，2790名水平正常）。通过食物频率问卷收集膳食信息，并从血样中获取hs-CRP水平。使用Boruta算法和倾向得分来选择和匹配膳食因素及样本量。机器学习（ML）算法和逻辑回归模型评估了氨基酸摄入量与hs-CRP升高风险之间的联系，并对年龄、性别、BMI和生活方式因素进行了调整。几种氨基酸（包括异亮氨酸、亮氨酸、赖氨酸、丝氨酸、半胱氨酸、酪氨酸、组氨酸、脯氨酸、血清氨基酸和芳香族氨基酸）的hs-CRP升高比值比（OR）具有显著性，数值范围为1.10至2.07。LightGBM算法在预测hs-CRP升高风险方面最有效，曲线下面积（AUC）达到0.927。通过SHAP分析和逻辑回归确定酪氨酸、蛋氨酸、半胱氨酸和脯氨酸为重要特征。丝氨酸、半胱氨酸、酪氨酸和脯氨酸的摄入显示hs-CRP升高风险呈线性增加，尤其是在低蛋白摄入量和正常体重（<0.1）的个体中。丝氨酸、半胱氨酸、酪氨酸和脯氨酸等氨基酸的摄入对儿童hs-CRP水平有显著影响，表明调节这些氨基酸有助于预防炎症相关疾病。本研究为未来的膳食和健康管理策略提供了支持。这是中国第一项将氨基酸与儿童炎症联系起来的大规模ML研究。主要局限性在于横断面设计和使用自我报告的膳食数据。
