Nature Communications· 2026Q1
Aberrant one-carbon metabolism and ancestral genetics underlie edematous severe acute malnutrition
- 0citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Genetic variants at six loci, including four linked to homocysteine and folate metabolism (AHCYL1, PRICKLE2, GABBR2, PLD2), are associated with edematous severe acute malnutrition in Jamaican and Malawian populations.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- Six genetic loci, including AHCYL1, PRICKLE2, GABBR2, and PLD2, are associated with edematous severe acute malnutrition.
- SNPs in PRICKLE2, GABBR2, and PLD2 directly influence homocysteine-related metabolites.
- Genetic variants in one-carbon metabolism are significantly associated with edematous malnutrition (z = 3.2).
- Population differences in association are linked to shared East African ancestry and distinct selection signatures.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Abstract Edematous severe childhood malnutrition is distinct from the non-edematous form of malnutrition and remains a major cause of under-five mortality. Its etiology remains unclear, although aberrant one-carbon metabolism has emerged as a potential contributor. Here, we assess genetic variants at loci known to influence one-carbon metabolism, and determine their association with edematous malnutrition in Jamaica and Malawi. Six loci show evidence of association, including four related to homocysteine and folate metabolism - AHCYL1 , PRICKLE2 , GABBR2 , and PLD2 , with SNPs at the latter three also having direct effects on homocysteine-related metabolites in Mendelian Randomization. Collectively, one-carbon metabolism-related variants were significantly associated with edematous malnutrition (z = 3.2), with population differences linked to a shared East African genetic ancestry and distinct signatures of selection. These findings strengthen evidence implicating aberrant one-carbon metabolism in edematous malnutrition and highlight the utility of cell-free DNA, intra-continental admixture, and population genetics for mapping disease risk.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Nature Communications, 2026 · DOI ↗
Continue with a free account
Ask the paper: 3 free questions a day about this paper; save it, get its citation, new summaries every day for your field. Takeaways are Premium.
Continue free on the webSign in with Google or Apple; no card needed. You come back to this paper.
On your phone:
Field: Nutrition and Dietetics
Nutrition and DieteticsNursing