Macronutrient Intake-Associated FGF21 Genotype Modifies Effects of Weight-Loss Diets on 2-Year Changes of Central Adiposity and Body Composition: The POUNDS Lost Trial.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is involved in the regulation of energy balance and adipose metabolism. Our previous genome-wide association study identified genetic variants in the FGF21 region associated with macronutrient intake preference. We investigated whether the FGF21 genotype modified effects of weight-loss diets varying in macronutrient intake on changes in adiposity in a 2-year randomized diet intervention trial.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS:

We genotyped FGF21 rs838147 in 715 overweight or obese individuals who were assigned to one of four diets varying in macronutrient contents. A DEXA scan was performed to evaluate body composition.

RESULTS:

We observed a significant interaction between the FGF21 genotype and carbohydrate/fat intake on 2-year changes in waist circumference (WC), percentage of total fat mass, and percentage of trunk fat (P = 0.049, P = 0.001, and P = 0.003 for interaction, respectively). In response to the low-carbohydrate/high-fat diet, carrying the carbohydrate intake-decreasing C allele of rs838147 was marginally associated with less reduction in WC (P = 0.08) and significantly associated with less reduction of total fat mass (P = 0.01) and trunk fat (P = 0.02). Opposite genetic associations with these outcomes were observed among the high-carbohydrate/low-fat diet group; carrying the C allele was associated with a greater reduction of WC, total body fat mass, and trunk fat.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our data suggest that FGF21 genotypes may interact with dietary carbohydrate/fat intake on changes in central adiposity and body fat composition. A low-calorie, high-carbohydrate/low-fat diet was beneficial for overweight or obese individuals carrying the carbohydrate intake-decreasing allele of the FGF21 variant to improve body composition and abdominal obesity.

• Authors: Yoriko Heianza, Wenjie Ma, Tao Huang, Tiange Wang, Yan Zheng, Steven R Smith, George A Bray, Frank M Sacks, Lu Qi
• Journal: Diabetes care (Diabetes Care) Vol. 39 Issue 11 Pg. 1909-1914 (Nov 2016) ISSN: 1935-5548 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 27581055 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2016 by the American Diabetes Association.

Chemical References

• Dietary Carbohydrates
• Dietary Fats
• fibroblast growth factor 21
• Fibroblast Growth Factors

Topics

• Adiposity (genetics)
• Adult
• Alleles
• Body Composition (genetics)
• Caloric Restriction
• Diet, Fat-Restricted
• Diet, High-Fat
• Diet, Reducing
• Dietary Carbohydrates
• Dietary Fats
• Energy Intake
• Female
• Fibroblast Growth Factors (genetics)
• Genome-Wide Association Study
• Genotype
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Obesity (diet therapy)
• Obesity, Abdominal (genetics)
• Overweight (diet therapy)
• Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
• Treatment Outcome
• Waist Circumference
• Weight Loss (genetics)