Factors affecting inter-individual variation in human plasma cholinesterase activity: Body weight, height, sex, genetic polymorphism and age

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Abstract
The influence of body weight, height, age and sex on plasma cholinesterase activity (ChE) in 650 males and 437 females with ChE-1 phenotype U (genotype ChEuChEu or ChEuChEs) or UA (genotype ChEuChEa) was studied in a multiple regression model. ChE was not influenced by age (p > 0.01), but, like other liver synthesized plasma enzymes, highly (p < 0.001) influenced by body weight and height. In a logarithmic scale ChE followed a linear model (R=0.535, p < 0.001) with randomly distributed residuals, lnChE= 3.286 −0.308 x ChE-1 phenotype −0.104 x sex + 0.00765 x weight −0.00723 x height (U=1, UA=2; male=1, female =2; kg; cm). A simplified model based on body-mass index (BMI = weight divided by squared height, kg/m2), lnCHE=2.016−0.308× ChE-1 phenotype −0.091 x sex + 0.0230 X BMI, showed the same goodness-of-fit (R=0.533). In a non-logarithmic scale both multiple regression models failed to fit cases with high ChE activity. A model for a ‘standardized’ plasma ChE in which the effects of ChE-1 phenotype, sex, body weight and height are eliminated, is proposed to compare ChE in unmatched population groups when using this enzyme activity as a biomarker in environmental or occupational medicine.