Effect of food intake on 92 neurological biomarkers in plasma

OBJECTIVE This study evaluates the effect of food intake on 92 neurological biomarkers in plasma. Moreover, it investigated if any of the biomarkers were correlated with body mass index. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-two healthy subjects (11 male and 11 female aged 25.9 ± 4.2 years) were investigated. A total of 92 biomarkers were measured before a standardized meal as well as 30 and 120 min afterward with the Proseek Multiplex Neurology I kit. RESULTS The levels for 13 biomarkers decreased significantly (p < .001) 30 min after food intake. The levels for four biomarkers remained significantly decreased (p < .001) 120 min after food intake. One biomarker increased significantly (p < .001) 30 min after food intake. The changes were between 1% and 12%, with an average difference of about 5%. Only one biomarker showed a difference over 10% due to food intake. The biggest difference was observed for Plexin-B3 120 min after food intake (12%). Of all the 92 neurological biomarkers, only one was correlated with BMI, Kynureninase r = .46, p < .05. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that food intake has a very modest effect on 92 different neurological biomarkers. Timing of blood sampling in relation to food intake, therefore, appears not to be a major concern. Only Kynureninase was correlated with BMI. Further studies are warranted in older healthy subjects and in patients with various neurological diseases to determine whether the findings are reproducible in such populations.