Dietary glycine and histidine linked to lower hyperlipidemia and hypertension
What it found
In a survey of Chinese adults, those who ate more glycine and histidine had lower rates of high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
The study cannot show that the amino acids caused the lower rates.
What they found
Studies in people
Glycine and health outcomes
People with the highest glycine intake were less likely to have hyperlipidemia or hypertension than those with the lowest intake. The authors report this as an inverse association.
Histidine and health outcomes
Higher histidine intake was also linked to lower odds of hyperlipidemia and hypertension. The association was seen in both men and women for different outcomes.
Combined glycine and histidine
People with high intakes of both amino acids had lower odds of hyperlipidemia and hypertension compared to those with low intakes of both.
Subgroup findings
The inverse links were strongest in people aged 60 and over, those with energy intake above the median, non-smokers, and non-drinkers. In women, glycine was linked to both conditions, while histidine was linked to hypertension.
What the authors conclude
“Dietary glycine and histidine, as well as their HGHH group, revealed an inverse relationship with hyperlipidemia and hypertension.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that dietary glycine and histidine, as well as their high intake group, showed an inverse relationship with hyperlipidemia and hypertension.
- They state that further investigations are needed to validate these findings.
- They advise that interventional studies are needed to confirm the relationship.
How it was done
The authors wanted to know whether dietary glycine and histidine are linked to hyperlipidemia and hypertension, because these amino acids have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects but their role in these conditions was unclear.
They analysed data from 11,192 Chinese adults aged 19 to 75 who completed an internet-based dietary questionnaire between 2014 and 2019. They compared rates of hyperlipidemia and hypertension across groups with different intakes of glycine, histidine, and both combined.
What it can’t tell you
- This was a cross-sectional study, so it cannot show whether higher glycine and histidine intake caused the lower rates of hyperlipidemia and hypertension.
- The study relied on self-reported dietary data and doctor diagnoses, which may be inaccurate.
- The findings are from a northern Chinese population and may not apply to other groups.
Who paid
- Funding
- Funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China; Open Project of Key Laboratory of Science and Engineering for the Multi-Modal Prevention and Control of Major Chronic Diseases, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology; Key Laboratory of Public Nutrition and Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China (from the PubMed record).
- Conflicts
- All authors have indicated that they have no conflicts of interest.
- Authors work at
- Harbin Medical University, China; Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, China
The paper
- Title
- The inverse associations of glycine and histidine in diet with hyperlipidemia and hypertension
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Rahemi MH, Zhang Y, Li Z, et al (2024). The inverse associations of glycine and histidine in diet with hyperlipidemia and hypertension. Nutrition journal. doi:10.1186/s12937-024-01005-4Free full textPubMed 39175065DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error