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Sarcosine and other metabolites along the choline oxidation pathway in relation to prostate cancer—A large nested case–control study within the JANUS cohort in Norway
Author(s) -
Vogel Stefan,
Ulvik Arve,
Meyer Klaus,
Ueland Per Magne,
Nygård Ottar,
Vollset Stein Emil,
Tell Grethe S.,
Gregory Jesse F.,
Tretli Steinar,
Bjørge Tone
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.28347
Subject(s) - sarcosine , prostate cancer , odds ratio , medicine , endocrinology , population , prostate , oncology , chemistry , cancer , glycine , biochemistry , amino acid , environmental health
Methyl group donors and intermediates of one‐carbon metabolism affect DNA synthesis and DNA methylation, and may thereby affect prostate carcinogenesis. Choline, the precursor of betaine, and the one‐carbon metabolite sarcosine have been associated with increased prostate cancer risk. Within JANUS, a prospective cohort in Norway ( n = 317,000) with baseline serum samples, we conducted a nested case–control study among 3,000 prostate cancer cases and 3,000 controls. Using conditional logistic regression, odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for prostate cancer risk were estimated according to quintiles of circulating betaine, dimethylglycine (DMG), sarcosine, glycine and serine. High sarcosine and glycine concentrations were associated with reduced prostate cancer risk of borderline significance (sarcosine: highest vs . lowest quintile OR = 0.86, CI = 0.72–1.01, p trend = 0.03; glycine: OR = 0.83, CI = 0.70–1.00, p trend = 0.07). Serum betaine, DMG and serine were not associated with prostate cancer risk. However, individuals with a high glycine/serine ratio were at decreased prostate cancer risk (OR = 0.74, CI = 0.69–0.85, p trend < 0.001). This population‐based study suggested that men with high serum sarcosine or glycine concentrations have modestly reduced prostate cancer risk. Ratios of metabolites reflecting one‐carbon balance may be associated with prostate cancer risk, as demonstrated for the glycine/serine ratio, and should be explored in future studies.