Association of the dopamine D2 receptor rs1800497 polymorphism and eating behavior in Chilean children

Construct validity and reliability of a French-Canadian translation of the eating in the absence of hunger questionnaire for children and adolescents

Eating in the absence of hunger (EAH) has been associated with overweight and obesity during childhood. The gold standard to assess this behavior is a laboratory-based protocol, but a questionnaire to assess EAH more efficiently in children and adolescents has been developed and validated in English. We assessed construct validity (structural and convergent validity) and reliability (internal consistency and temporal stability) of a French translation of the EAH Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents among French-Canadian youths. We recruited participants in Montreal (Canada) aged 7-15 years old, who completed the questionnaire and provided anthropometric data. We asked participants to complete the questionnaire a second time ∼4 weeks later. The questionnaire consists of 14 questions and 3 subscales that assess EAH due to negative affect, fatigue/boredom, and external cues. We performed an exploratory factor analysis to test the factor structure and we calculated Cronbach alpha coefficients and intra-class correlations to assess internal consistency and temporal stability, respectively. We assessed associations between EAH and BMI z-score using Pearson correlations. We included 196 participants (50% girls; mean (SD) 11.9 (2.3) years old) for the first completion and 153 for the second completion. The exploratory factor analysis generated the same three subscales as the original questionnaire: negative affect (α = 0.86; ICC = 0.78), fatigue/boredom (α = 0.75; ICC = 0.70), and external cues (α = 0.68; ICC = 0.54). Participant's BMI z-scores were positively associated with the average scores from the negative affect subscale (r = 0.19; ρ = 0.009). Our results suggest that this questionnaire has an adequate construct validity, internal consistency, and temporal stability.

Factors Associated with Eating in the Absence of Hunger among Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review

Eating in the absence of hunger (EAH) has been extensively studied over the past two decades and has been associated with excess body weight and the development of obesity. However, determinants of EAH remain uncertain. This systematic review aims to identify individual, familial, and environmental factors associated with EAH among children and adolescents. We included studies with a measure of EAH in participants aged 3-17 years old and including ≥1 factor associated with EAH. Our search identified 1494 articles. Of these, we included 81 studies: 53 cross-sectional, 19 longitudinal and nine intervention studies. In childhood (≤12 years old), EAH increases with age, it is greater in boys compared to girls, and it is positively associated with adiposity. Moreover, EAH development seems to be influenced by genetics. In adolescence, the number of studies is limited; yet, studies show that EAH slightly increases or remains stable with age, is not clearly different between sexes, and findings for overweight or obesity are less consistent across studies in adolescence. For familial factors, parental restrictive feeding practices are positively associated with EAH during childhood, mostly for girls. Studies assessing environmental factors are lacking and robust longitudinal studies spanning from early childhood to adolescence are needed.

ADHD co-morbidities: A review of implication of gene × environment effects with dopamine-related genes

ADHD is a major burden in adulthood, where co-morbid conditions such as depression, substance use disorder and obesity often dominate the clinical picture. ADHD has substantial shared heritability with other mental disorders, contributing to comorbidity. However, environmental risk factors exist but their interaction with genetic makeup, especially in relation to comorbid disorders, remains elusive. This review for the first time summarizes present knowledge on gene x environment (GxE) interactions regarding the dopamine system. Hitherto, mainly candidate (GxE) studies were performed, focusing on the genes DRD4, DAT1 and MAOA. Some evidence suggest that the variable number tandem repeats in DRD4 and MAOA may mediate GxE interactions in ADHD generally, and comorbid conditions specifically. Nevertheless, even for these genes, common variants are bound to suggest risk only in the context of gender and specific environments. For other polymorphisms, evidence is contradictory and less convincing. Particularly lacking are longitudinal studies testing the interaction of well-defined environmental with polygenic risk scores reflecting the dopamine system in its entirety.

Association of the dopamine D2 receptor rs1800497 polymorphism with food addiction, food reinforcement, and eating behavior in Chilean adults

PURPOSE

The regulation of food intake and body weight involves two interacting systems: (a) The homeostatic system (including biological regulators of hunger and satiety) and (b) the non-homeostatic system, (involving concepts of food reinforcement and food addiction). Studies have established a strong genetic component in eating behavior and obesity. The TaqI A1 polymorphism (rs1800497) has previously been associated with eating behavior, diminished dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) density, higher body mass, and food reinforcement, but relations to food addiction remain unclear.

AIM

To evaluate the association between the polymorphism rs1800497 with eating behavior, food reinforcement and food addiction in Chilean adults.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study recruited a convenience sample of 97 obese, 25 overweight and 99 normal-weight adults (18-35 years). Anthropometric measurements were performed by standard procedures. Eating behavior was assessed using the: Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS), the Three Factor Eating Behavior Questionnaire and the Food Reinforcement Value Questionnaire (FRVQ). The DRD2 genotype (rs1800497) was determined by taqman assays.

RESULTS

Twenty-two percentage of the participants met the criteria for food addiction. Food addiction was higher in women than men (26% vs 10.7%) and in obese compared to non-obese (40% vs 6%). There was no relationship between food addiction and DRD2 genotype. However when stratified by sex and nutritional status, obese female carriers of the A1 allele reported greater scores on emotional eating and snack food reinforcement compared to non-carriers.

CONCLUSIONS

The DRD2 polymorphism is associated with some hedonic aspects of eating behavior, namely food reinforcement and emotional eating but not food addiction, and this association may be moderated by sex and obesity status, with obese women who are carriers of this genetic variant at higher risk.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level V: evidence obtained from a cross-sectional descriptive study.

The association between childhood adiposity and appetite assessed using the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire and Baby Eating Behavior Questionnaire: A systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to quantify associations between Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ) and Baby Eating Behavior Questionnaire (BEBQ) appetitive traits (food approach: Food Responsiveness [FR], Enjoyment of Food [EF], Emotional Overeating [EOE], and Desire to Drink [DD]; food avoidant: Satiety Responsiveness [SR], Slowness in Eating [SE], Emotional Undereating [EUE], Food Fussiness [FF]) and measures of child adiposity. Searches of six databases up to February 2019 identified 72 studies (CEBQ, n = 67; BEBQ, n = 5), and 27 met the meta-analysis criteria. For cross-sectional studies reporting unadjusted correlations with body mass index z-scores (BMIz) (n = 19), all traits were associated with BMIz in expected directions (positive: FR, EF, EOE, and DD; negative: SR, SE, EUE, and FF). Pooled estimates ranged from r = 0.22 (FR) to r = -0.21 (SR). For cross-sectional studies reporting regression coefficients (n = 10), three traits (FR, EF, and EOE) associated positively, and three traits (SR, SE, and EUE) negatively, with BMIz (β = -0.31 [SR] to β = 0.22 [FR]). Eleven studies reported prospective relationships from appetite to adiposity measures for six scales (positive: FR, EF, EOE, and DD; negative: SR and SE). Five studies reported relationships from adiposity measures to appetite for five traits (positive: FR, EF, and EOE; negative: SR). All BEBQ traits were consistently cross-sectionally associated with adiposity measures. Overall, CEBQ/BEBQ-assessed appetitive traits show consistent cross-sectional relationships with measures of child adiposity.

Gender effect on eating habits of Nigerian school children

It is important to investigate children's eating habits based on different eating behaviors such as satiety responsiveness (SR), slowness in eating (SE), food fussiness (FF), food responsiveness (FR), enjoyment of food (EF), desire to drink (DD), emotional under-eating (EUE), and emotional over-eating (EOE). The main objective of this research was to investigate whether gender affects the eating habits of Nigerian school children.A cross-sectional survey was conducted between March and June 2019. A total of 120 parents of school children participated in the study. The Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ) was used to collect data. The CEBQ is composed of 35 items and eight subscales.Based on the analysis of parents' reports, DD was higher in boys than girls, t (118) = 7.086, P < .001; EOE was higher in boys than girls, t (118) = 5.184, P < .001; EF was higher in boys than girls, t (118) = 2.183, P < .001; FF was higher in boys than girls, t (118) = 9.441, P < .001; and SR was higher in boys than girls, t (118) = 7.323, P < .001. However, EUE was lower in boys than girls, t (118) = -4.339, P < .001; FR was lower in boys than girls, t(118) = -3.112, P < .001; SE was lower in boys than girls, t(118) = -3.832, P < .001; thus, gender had a significant influence on eating habits of the school children.Gender significantly affects the eating habits of Nigerian school children. Thus, gender is an important factor to be considered when aiming to improve the eating habits of Nigerian school children.

Associations of the ANKK1 and DRD2 gene polymorphisms with overweight, obesity and hedonic hunger among women from the Northwest of Iran

BACKGROUND

Pleasure from palatable foods can stimulate hedonic eating and, therefore, might be a major culprit for obesity. Dopamine receptor polymorphisms, especially variants in the genes regulating the D2 receptor, including ANKK1 and DRD2, are the prime candidates for assessing the individual differences in hedonic eating. This study was carried out to investigate the possible associations of the T (rs1800497) and Del (rs1799732) alleles with body mass index (BMI) and hedonic hunger among Iranian Azeri women.

METHODS

A total of 372 healthy overweight/obese subjects (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²) and 159 normal weight individuals (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m²) were genotyped for the polymorphisms of ANNK1 and DRD2 genes using PCR-RFLP. BMI and hedonic hunger were also evaluated.

RESULTS

Three hundred and sixty-three (68.36%), 152 (28.63%), and 16 (3.01%) of the participants had CC, CT, and TT genotypes for ANNK1 gene, respectively. Of 515 samples genotyped for DRD2 gene, 315 (60.51%), 173 (33.59%), and 27 (5.24%) had Ins/Ins, Ins/Del, and Del/Del genotypes, respectively. The genotype and genotype frequencies were significantly different between the groups (p = 0.04). Significant differences were observed between the T+ genotype (TT + TC) and the T- genotype (CC) regarding the BMI and hedonic hunger scores (p < 0.05). In addition, Del+ group (Del/Del + Ins/Del) had higher BMI and hedonic hunger scores compared to Del- group (Ins/Ins) (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings showed that the frequencies of T and Del alleles were greater in the overweight/obese individuals. Also, the polymorphism of ANKK1 (rs1800497) and polymorphism of the DRD2 gene (rs1799732) showed significant associations with BMI and hedonic hunger.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, case-control study.

The impact of genetic polymorphisms on weight regain after successful weight loss

Obesity is associated with an increased risk of various diseases and mortality. Although nearly 50 % of adults have been reported trying to lose weight, the prevalence of obesity has increased. One factor that hinders weight loss-induced decrease in obesity prevalence is weight regain. Although behavioural, psychological and physiological factors associated with weight regain have been reviewed, the information regarding the relationship between weight regain and genetics has not been previously summarised. In this paper, we comprehensively review the association between genetic polymorphisms and weight regain in adults and children with obesity after weight loss. Based on this information, identification of genetic polymorphism in patients who undergo weight loss intervention might be used to estimate their risks of weight regain. Additionally, the genetic-based risk estimation may be used as a guide for physicians and dietitians to provide each of their patients with the most appropriate strategies for weight loss and weight maintenance.

Genetic variation of the dopamine D2 receptor gene: association with the reinforcing value of food and eating in the absence of hunger in Chilean children

Introduction

Background: food is a powerful reinforcer that motivates people to eat. The TaqI A1 polymorphism (rs1800497; T>C) downstream of the dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) gene has been associated with diminished DRD2 receptor density, higher food reinforcement, and impaired eating behavior in adults. Objective: to evaluate the association between the rs1800497 polymorphism and the reinforcing value of food and eating in the absence of hunger in Chilean children. Material and method: nineteen Chilean children (aged 8-12 years) who were carriers of the A1-allele and 19 age- and gender-matched non-carriers (A2-allele) were evaluated on the reinforcing value of food and eating in the absence of hunger. Anthropometric measures were performed by standard procedures. Briefly, children received a standard pre-load lunch followed by an ad-libitum exposure to palatable foods. Results: no differences were found between A1-allele carriers and non-carriers, whether obese or non-obese, in ad libitum energy intake, macronutrient consumption, or the relative reinforcing value of food (p > 0.05). In obese children, A1 carriers reported significantly lower satiety and fullness before lunch (p < 0.05). However, in children with normal weight A1 carriers were found to exhibit trends for greater satiety and fullness before lunch when compared to non-carriers, but this trend reversed after lunch such that carriers exhibited lower satiety and fullness (p = 0.06). Conclusions: although TaqI A1 may play an important role in some eating behavior-related traits such as satiety and fullness, especially in obese children, our findings indicate that this polymorphism does not appear to affect eating in the absence of hunger or food reinforcement in children.

Interactions between DRD2/ANKK1 TaqIA Polymorphism and Dietary Factors Influence Plasma Triglyceride Concentrations in Diabetic Patients from Western Mexico: A Cross-sectional Study

This study aimed to screen relevant interactions between DRD2/ANKK1 TaqIA polymorphism and dietary intakes with reference to phenotypical features in patients with T2D from western Mexico. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 175 T2D patients were enrolled. Dietary intake was evaluated using 3-day food records and appropriate software. Glycemic and blood lipid profiles were measured by standardized methods. Genotyping of the DRD2/ANKK1 TaqIA polymorphism was performed by the RFLP method. Gene-diet interactions regarding anthropometric and metabolic phenotypes were screened by adjusted multiple linear regression analyses. Genotype frequencies of the DRD2/ANKK1 TaqIA polymorphism were A1A1 (16.0%), A1A2 (52.6%), and A2A2 (31.4%). Statistically significant interactions between the DRD2/ANKK1 TaqIA genotypes and dietary factors in relation to blood triglyceride (TG) levels were found. Carriers of the A1 allele (A1A1 homozygotes plus A1A2 heterozygotes) were protected from TG increases by maltose intake (P int. = 0.023). Instead, A2A2 homozygotes were susceptible to TG rises through consumptions of total fat (P int. = 0.041), monounsaturated fatty acids (P int. = 0.001), and dietary cholesterol (P int. = 0.019). This study suggests that the interactions between DRD2/ANKK1 TaqIA polymorphism and dietary factors (sugar and fats) influence TG levels in diabetic patients.

DRD2/ANKK1 TaqI A1 polymorphism associates with overconsumption of unhealthy foods and biochemical abnormalities in a Mexican population

PURPOSE

The dopamine receptor 2/ankyrin repeat domain and content kinase 1 (DRD2/ANKK1) TaqIA polymorphism (rs1800497) has been associated with rewarding behaviors. This study aimed to investigate the association of DRD2/ANKK1 TaqIA polymorphism with the dietary intake, the intake frequency of food groups and biochemical profile in Mexican mestizo subjects.

METHODS

A cross-sectional/analytical study with 276 Mexican subjects was performed. Dietary intake was assessed with a 24-h recall and a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). An allelic discrimination assay evaluated DRD2/ANKK1 TaqIA genotypes. Anthropometric and biochemical data were evaluated.

RESULTS

Genotype frequencies were A1A1 (18.48%), A1A2 (45.29%) and A2A2 (36.23%). TaqI A1 allele carriers had a higher intake of carbohydrates (p = 0.038), meats (p = 0.005), fried dishes (p = 0.039), and sugars (p = 0.009). Male TaqI A1 carriers consumed more carbohydrates (p = 0.009) and meats (p = 0.018) while females consumed fewer legumes (p = 0.005). TaqI A1 carriers had glucose (p = 0.037) and triglycerides (p = 0.011) abnormalities. TaqI A1 was associated with higher risk of consumption of unhealthy foods such as fried dishes (OR 3.79, 95% CI 1.53-9.35, p = 0.002) and meats (OR 2.31, 95% CI 1.32-4.05, p = 0.003), and lower healthy foods (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.04-3.29, p = 0.038). TaqI A1 allele was associated with risk of abnormal glucose, triglycerides, and VLDL levels (OR 2.148, 95% CI 1.068-4.322, p = 0.036; OR 1.999, 95% CI 1.194-3.348, p = 0.011; OR 2.021, 95% CI 1.203-3.392, p = 0.007), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of the TaqI A1 allele in Mexicans is a genetic risk factor for detrimental dietary quality that may predispose to metabolic disturbances.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, case-control analytic study.

A Guide to Applying the Sex-Gender Perspective to Nutritional Genomics

Precision nutrition aims to make dietary recommendations of a more personalized nature possible, to optimize the prevention or delay of a disease and to improve health. Therefore, the characteristics (including sex) of an individual have to be taken into account as well as a series of omics markers. The results of nutritional genomics studies are crucial to generate the evidence needed so that precision nutrition can be applied. Although sex is one of the fundamental variables for making recommendations, at present, the nutritional genomics studies undertaken have not analyzed, systematically and with a gender perspective, the heterogeneity/homogeneity in gene-diet interactions on the different phenotypes studied, thus there is little information available on this issue and needs to be improved. Here we argue for the need to incorporate the gender perspective in nutritional genomics studies, present the general context, analyze the differences between sex and gender, as well as the limitations to measuring them and to detecting specific sex-gene or sex-phenotype associations, both at the specific gene level or in genome-wide-association studies. We analyzed the main sex-specific gene-diet interactions published to date and their main limitations and present guidelines with recommendations to be followed when undertaking new nutritional genomics studies incorporating the gender perspective.

Aetiology of eating behaviours: A possible mechanism to understand obesity development in early childhood

Childhood obesity is an issue of public health concern that is understood to emerge due to disequilibrium in energy homeostasis. This commentary explores literature regarding neuro-biological mechanisms of energy homeostasis and the relationship between subjective measures of children's eating behaviours and objective measures of appetite, in order to better understand the aetiology of childhood obesity. Early life influences, such as in utero exposure, breastfeeding, and general disadvantage, appear to have an important influence on neuro-biological mechanisms of appetite and may contribute to inequitable distributions of obesity within the population. Subject measures of eating behaviours appear to capture various aspects of neuro-biologically driven (objective) appetite systems, however, these systems are complex, interdependent and not yet fully understood. Future research focusing attention on early life influences on appetite and eating behaviours is warranted to increase understanding of differences in rates of obesity within the population, to determine opportunities for targeted obesity prevention initiatives, and to explore the potential to measure change in eating behaviours as a marker of appetite and obesity risk.

Dopamine receptor D2 polymorphism is associated with alleviation of obesity after 8-year follow-up: a retrospective cohort study in obese Chinese children and adolescents

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to explore the association of dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) polymorphism and alleviation of obesity in children and adolescents after 8-year follow-up.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included obese children and adolescents with a follow-up period of 8 years. Baseline clinical characteristics and DRD2 polymorphisms (including rs1076562, rs2075654, and rs4586205) were extracted from medical records. A follow-up visit was performed in May 2017 to collect related data including height, weight, diet compliance, and exercise compliance.

RESULTS

One hundred and nine obese children and adolescents were included in the current study. Among three DRD2 single nucleotide polymorphisms, only rs2075654 had a statistically significant association with alleviation of obesity, as the alleviation rate for minor allele carriers (68.6% for TC+TT) was higher compared to the major allele homozygote (43.3% for CC). After adjusting for all related factors, the hazard ratio of rs2075654 minor allele carriers for the alleviation of obesity was 3.34 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.30‒8.58).

CONCLUSIONS

The rs2075654 polymorphism of DRD2 is related to long-term obesity alleviation in obese Chinese children and adolescents.