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Variation in fasting and non-fasting serum enterolactone concentrations in women of the Malmö Diet and Cancer cohort

Abstract

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to examine the variation of enterolactone from fasting and non-fasting blood of middle-aged healthy women eating a normal diet to determine the usefulness of a single sample in epidemiological studies.

Subjects and methods:

Twenty-six women born between 1940 and 1950 were recruited within the Malmö Diet and Cancer cohort. Three non-fasting and two overnight fasting samples were collected from each individual during a 5-week period. Twenty-one participated in all measurements. Enterolactone concentrations were analyzed by time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay.

Results:

The within-subject and between-subject variations (coefficient of variations, CV) were estimated to 59 and 89% respectively for fasting samples and 71 and 67% for non-fasting samples. The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were estimated to 0.66 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.35–0.84) for fasting and 0.48 (95% CI, 0.22–0.72) for non-fasting samples.

Conclusions:

Although the estimated ICC for blood samples was moderate, it indicates that enterolactone levels of both fasting and non-fasting blood samples should be useful in future projects within the Malmö Diet and Cancer cohort.

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Acknowledgements

This study was sponsored by Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research, Albert Påhlsson Foundation, Johanna Andersson Foundation, Swedish Research Council, Swedish Cancer Society, Regional Government of Skåne.

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Correspondence to E Wirfält.

Additional information

Contributors: ES, UE, EW and BG contributed to study design. ES conducted the analysis of data, and wrote most of the manuscript. All authors reviewed the final manuscript.

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Sonestedt, E., Ericson, U., Gullberg, B. et al. Variation in fasting and non-fasting serum enterolactone concentrations in women of the Malmö Diet and Cancer cohort. Eur J Clin Nutr 62, 1005–1009 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602811

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