Genetic interactions with diet influence the risk of cardiovascular disease

Assessment of the impact of a personalised nutrition intervention in impaired glucose regulation over 26 weeks: a randomised controlled trial

Dietary interventions can reduce progression to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in people with non-diabetic hyperglycaemia. In this study we aimed to determine the impact of a DNA-personalised nutrition intervention in people with non-diabetic hyperglycaemia over 26 weeks. ASPIRE-DNA was a pilot study. Participants were randomised into three arms to receive either (i) Control arm: standard care (NICE guidelines) (n = 51), (ii) Intervention arm: DNA-personalised dietary advice (n = 50), or (iii) Exploratory arm: DNA-personalised dietary advice via a self-guided app and wearable device (n = 46). The primary outcome was the difference in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) between the Control and Intervention arms after 6 weeks. 180 people were recruited, of whom 148 people were randomised, mean age of 59 years (SD = 11), 69% of whom were female. There was no significant difference in the FPG change between the Control and Intervention arms at 6 weeks (- 0.13 mmol/L (95% CI [- 0.37, 0.11]), p = 0.29), however, we found that a DNA-personalised dietary intervention led to a significant reduction of FPG at 26 weeks in the Intervention arm when compared to standard care (- 0.019 (SD = 0.008), p = 0.01), as did the Exploratory arm (- 0.021 (SD = 0.008), p = 0.006). HbA1c at 26 weeks was significantly reduced in the Intervention arm when compared to standard care (- 0.038 (SD = 0.018), p = 0.04). There was some evidence suggesting prevention of progression to T2DM across the groups that received a DNA-based intervention (p = 0.06). Personalisation of dietary advice based on DNA did not result in glucose changes within the first 6 weeks but was associated with significant reduction of FPG and HbA1c at 26 weeks when compared to standard care. The DNA-based diet was effective regardless of intervention type, though results should be interpreted with caution due to the low sample size. These findings suggest that DNA-based dietary guidance is an effective intervention compared to standard care, but there is still a minimum timeframe of adherence to the intervention before changes in clinical outcomes become apparent.Trial Registration: www.clinicaltrials.gov.uk Ref: NCT03702465.

Role of beta-2 adrenergic receptor polymorphism (rs1042714) on body weight and glucose metabolism response to a meal-replacement hypocaloric diet

OBJECTIVES

The beta-2 adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) is involved in energy balance regulation. The objective of our study was to evaluate the role of the rs1042714 genetic variant of ADRB2 gene on weight loss, body composition, and metabolic changes secondary to partial meal replacement (pMR) hypocaloric diet in women with obesity.

METHODS

We conducted an interventional study in 95 premenopausal women with body mass index ≥ 35 kg/m2. The subjects received two intakes per day of a normocaloric hyperproteic formula during 12 wk of a pMR diet. Body weight, body mass index, fat mass, waist circumference, lipid profile, fasting insulin levels, and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance were determined. All patients were genotyped rs1042714 and evaluated in a dominant model (CC versus CG + GG).

RESULTS

Genotype frequencies were 31 (37.3%), 38 (45.8%), and 14 (16.9%) for the CC, CG, and GG genotypes, respectively. We found significant interaction effects between ADRB2 variant and pMR-induced changes (CC versus CG + GG) on body weight (-7.1 ± 0.3 versus -13.5 ± 0.5 kg; P = 0.03), body mass index (-0.9 ± 0.1 versus -1.2 ± 0.2 kg/m2; P = 0.03), fat mass (-4.9 ± 0.5 versus -10.2 ±1.2 kg; P = 0.01), waist circumference (-5.1 ± 0.2 versus -10.1 ± 1.9 cm; P = 0.03), glucose (-5.1 ± 1.3 versus -12.5 ± 2.5 mg/dL; P = 0.03), total cholesterol (-18.1 ± 9.3 versus -33.5 ± 4.5 mg/dL; P = 0.03), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-9.1 ± 5.3 versus -24.5 ± 4.1 mg/dL; P = 0.04), triacylglycerol levels (-6.1 ± 5.3 versus -31.5 ± 9.5 mg/dL; P = 0.04), fasting insulin levels (-1.8 ± 0.3 versus -6.3 ± 0.5 IU/L; P = 0.03), and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (-0.6 ± 0.3 versus -1.9 ± 0.5 U; P = 0.03). The odds ratio to improve alteration in glucose metabolism adjusted by age and weight loss throughout the study was 0.26 (95% CI, 0.07-0.95; P = 0.02) in G allele carriers.

CONCLUSIONS

The G allele of rs1042714 predicts the magnitude of weight loss resulting from a pMR diet. These adiposity improvements produce a better improvement of insulin resistance and percentage of impaired glucose metabolism in G allele carriers.

A combination of single nucleotide polymorphisms is associated with the interindividual variability in the blood lipid response to dietary fatty acid consumption in a randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Blood lipid concentrations display high interindividual variability in response to dietary interventions, partly due to genetic factors. Existing studies have focused on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) analyzed individually, which only explain a limited fraction of the variability of these complex phenotypes.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to identify combinations of SNPs associated with the variability in LDL cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) concentration changes following 5 dietary interventions.

DESIGN

In a multicenter randomized crossover trial, 92 participants with elevated waist circumference and low HDL cholesterol concentrations consumed 5 isoenergetic diets for 4 wk: a diet rich in saturated fatty acids (SFAs) from cheese, SFA from butter, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and a diet higher in carbohydrates (CHO). The association between 22 candidate SNPs in genes involved in lipid and bile acid metabolism and transport and changes in LDL cholesterol and TG concentrations was assessed with univariate statistics followed by partial least squares regression.

RESULTS

Endpoint LDL cholesterol concentrations were significantly different (cheese: 3.18 ± 0.04, butter: 3.31 ± 0.04, MUFA: 3.00 ± 0.04, PUFA: 2.81 ± 0.04, CHO: 3.11 ± 0.04 mmol/L; P < 0.001) while endpoint TG concentrations were not (P = 0.117). Both displayed consistently elevated interindividual variability following the dietary interventions (CVs of 34.5 ± 2.2% and 55.8 ± 1.8%, respectively). Among the 22 candidate SNPs, only ABCA1-rs2066714 and apolipoprotein E (APOE) isoforms exhibited consistent significant effects, namely on LDL cholesterol concentrations. However, several SNPs were significantly associated with changes in LDL cholesterol and TG concentrations in a diet-specific fashion. Generated multivariate models explained from 16.0 to 33.6% of the interindividual variability in LDL cholesterol concentration changes and from 17.5 to 32.0% of that in TG concentration changes.

CONCLUSIONS

We report combinations of SNPs associated with a significant part of the variability in LDL cholesterol and TG concentrations following dietary interventions differing in their fatty acid profiles.

Role of polyunsaturated fatty acids in ischemic stroke - A perspective of specialized pro-resolving mediators

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been proposed as beneficial for cardiovascular health. However, results from both epidemiological studies and clinical trials have been inconsistent, whereas most of the animal studies showed promising benefits of PUFAs in the prevention and treatment of ischemic stroke. In recent years, it has become clear that PUFAs are metabolized into various types of bioactive derivatives, including the specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs). SPMs exert multiple biofunctions, such as to limit excessive inflammatory responses, regulate lipid metabolism and immune cell functions, decrease production of pro-inflammatory factors, increase anti-inflammatory mediators, as well as to promote tissue repair and homeostasis. Inflammation has been recognised as a key contributor to the pathophysiology of acute ischemic stroke. Owing to their potent pro-resolving actions, SPMs are potential for development of novel anti-stroke therapy. In this review, we will summarize current knowledge of epidemiological studies, basic research and clinical trials concerning PUFAs in stroke prevention and treatment, with special attention to SPMs as the unsung heroes behind PUFAs.

D4F prophylaxis enables redox and energy homeostasis while preventing inflammation during hypoxia exposure

Apo-A1 is correlated with conditions like hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular diseases, high altitude pulmonary edema and etc. where hypoxia constitutes an important facet.Hypoxia causes oxidative stress, vaso-destructive and inflammatory outcomes.Apo-A1 is reported to have vasoprotective, anti-oxidative, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, effects of Apo-A1 augmentation during hypoxia exposure are unknown.In this study, we investigated the effects of exogenously supplementing Apo-A1-mimetic peptide on SD rats during hypoxia exposure. For easing the processes of delivery, absorption and bio-availability, Apo-A1 mimetic peptide D4F was used. The rats were given 10 mg/kg BW dose (i.p.) of D4F for 7 days and then exposed to hypoxia. D4F was observed to attenuate both oxidative stress and inflammation during hypoxic exposure. D4F improved energy homeostasis during hypoxic exposure. D4F did not affect HIF-1a levels during hypoxia but increased MnSOD levels while decreasing CRP and Apo-B levels. D4F showed promise as a prophylactic against hypoxia exposure.

Dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disease risk among the MASHAD study population

Introduction

Dyslipidemia may be defined as increased levels of serum total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG), or a decreased serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentration. Dyslipidemia is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). We aimed to investigate the association of dyslipidemia and CVD events among a population sample from Mashhad, in northeastern Iran.

Material and methods

This prospective cohort study comprised a population of 8698 men and women aged 35–65 years who were recruited from the Mashhad Stroke and Heart Atherosclerotic Disorder (MASHAD) study. Socioeconomic and demographic status, anthropometric parameters, laboratory evaluations, lifestyle factors, and medical history were gathered through a comprehensive questionnaire and laboratory and clinical assessment for all participants. Cox regression model and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to evaluate the association of dyslipidemia and its components with CVD incidence.

Results

After 6 years of follow-up, 233 cases of CVD (including 119 cases of unstable angina [US], 74 cases of stable angina [SA], and 40 cases of myocardial infarction [MI]) were identified in the study population. Unadjusted baseline serum LDL-C, TC, and TG levels were positively associated with the risk of total CVD events among the entire population (HR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.19–2; P-value< 0.01; HR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.18–1.98; P < 0.01; HR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.27–2.03; P < 0.01, respectively). However, after adjusting for confounding factors (age, body mass index [BMI], family history of CVD, smoking status [non-smoker, ex-smoker and current smoker], lipid lowering drug treatment, anti-hypertensive drug treatment, hypertension, healthy eating index [HEI], total energy intake, and presence of diabetes mellitus), a significant direct association only remained between TC and MI risk in men (HR: 2.71; 95%CI: 1.12–6.57; P-value< 0.05).

Conclusion

In the present study, TC baseline level was significantly associated with the risk of MI among men.

Role of Key Micronutrients from Nutrigenetic and Nutrigenomic Perspectives in Cancer Prevention

Regarding cancer as a genetic multi-factorial disease, a number of aspects need to be investigated and analyzed in terms of cancer's predisposition, development and prognosis. One of these multi-dimensional factors, which has gained increased attention in the oncological field due to its unelucidated role in risk assessment for cancer, is diet. Moreover, as studies advance, a clearer connection between diet and the molecular alteration of patients is becoming identifiable and quantifiable, thereby replacing the old general view associating specific phenotypical changes with the differential intake of nutrients. Respectively, there are two major fields concentrated on the interrelation between genome and diet: nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics. Nutrigenetics studies the effects of nutrition at the gene level, whereas nutrigenomics studies the effect of nutrients on genome and transcriptome patterns. By precisely evaluating the interaction between the genomic profile of patients and their nutrient intake, it is possible to envision a concept of personalized medicine encompassing nutrition and health care. The list of nutrients that could have an inhibitory effect on cancer development is quite extensive, with evidence in the scientific literature. The administration of these nutrients showed significant results in vitro and in vivo regarding cancer inhibition, although more studies regarding administration in effective doses in actual patients need to be done.

The interaction of cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene variations and diet on changes in serum lipid profiles

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Gene-diet interactions may have an important role in the disparities between the lipid responses of individuals to diet. This study aimed to investigate whether polymorphisms (rs5882 and rs3764261) in the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) gene modify the association of diet with changes in serum lipid profiles.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

A total of 4700 individuals aged ≥18 years were selected from among participants of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study. After 3.6 years of follow-up, changes in serum lipid profiles were evaluated. Usual dietary intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. DNA samples were genotyped with HumanOmniExpress-24-v1-0 bead chips (containing 649,932 SNP loci).

RESULTS

No significant interaction was found between CETP polymorphisms and dietary patterns in changing lipid profiles. Mean changes of total cholesterol (TC) decreased in higher quartiles of fish intake in A allele carriers (Q1:8.02, Q4:5.58, P_trend = 0.01) compared to the CC genotype (Q1:3.65, Q4:8.93, P_trend = 0.11) (P_i = 0.02). There are ascending trends of changes in triglyceride (TG) concentrations across quartiles of total fat, monounsaturated and saturated fat consumption in G allele carriers of rs5882 compared to the AA genotype. There was a declining trend for mean changes in TG concentrations across quartiles of carbohydrate intake in G allele carriers of rs5882 compared to the AA genotype (P_i = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data demonstrated that minor allele carriers of rs5882 had a better TG value than AA homozygote individuals when consuming a low fat and high carbohydrate diet. Fish intake modifies the association of rs3764261with TC concentrations.

Effect of Low Dose Docosahexaenoic Acid-Rich Fish Oil on Plasma Lipids and Lipoproteins in Pre-Menopausal Women: A Dose⁻Response Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial

Omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 LCPUFA) supplementation has been shown to improve plasma lipid profiles in men and post-menopausal women, however, data for pre-menopausal women are lacking. The benefits of intakes less than 1 g/day have not been well studied, and dose–response data is limited. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of low doses of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-rich tuna oil on plasma triglyceride (TG) lowering in pre-menopausal women, and investigate if low dose DHA-rich tuna oil supplementation would increase the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particle sizes. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted, in which 53 healthy pre-menopausal women with mildly elevated plasma TG levels consumed 0, 0.35, 0.7, or 1 g/day n-3 LCPUFA as HiDHA™ tuna oil or placebo (Sunola oil) capsules for 8 weeks. Supplementation with 1 g/day n-3 LCPUFA, but not lower doses, reduced plasma TG by 23% in pre-menopausal women. This was reflected in a dose-dependent reduction in very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-TG (R² = 0.20, p = 0.003). A weak dose-dependent shift in HDL (but not LDL) particle size was identified (R² = 0.05, p = 0.04). The results of this study indicate that DHA-rich n-3 LCPUFA supplementation at a dose of 1 g/day is an effective TG-lowering agent and increases HDL particle size in pre-menopausal women.

Epistatic Networks Jointly Influence Phenotypes Related to Metabolic Disease and Gene Expression in Diversity Outbred Mice

In this study, Tyler et al. analyzed the complex genetic architecture of metabolic disease-related traits using the Diversity Outbred mouse population

Genetic studies of multidimensional phenotypes can potentially link genetic variation, gene expression, and physiological data to create multi-scale models of complex traits. The challenge of reducing these data to specific hypotheses has become increasingly acute with the advent of genome-scale data resources. Multi-parent populations derived from model organisms provide a resource for developing methods to understand this complexity. In this study, we simultaneously modeled body composition, serum biomarkers, and liver transcript abundances from 474 Diversity Outbred mice. This population contained both sexes and two dietary cohorts. Transcript data were reduced to functional gene modules with weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA), which were used as summary phenotypes representing enriched biological processes. These module phenotypes were jointly analyzed with body composition and serum biomarkers in a combined analysis of pleiotropy and epistasis (CAPE), which inferred networks of epistatic interactions between quantitative trait loci that affect one or more traits. This network frequently mapped interactions between alleles of different ancestries, providing evidence of both genetic synergy and redundancy between haplotypes. Furthermore, a number of loci interacted with sex and diet to yield sex-specific genetic effects and alleles that potentially protect individuals from the effects of a high-fat diet. Although the epistatic interactions explained small amounts of trait variance, the combination of directional interactions, allelic specificity, and high genomic resolution provided context to generate hypotheses for the roles of specific genes in complex traits. Our approach moves beyond the cataloging of single loci to infer genetic networks that map genetic etiology by simultaneously modeling all phenotypes.

Effects of omega-3 on matrix metalloproteinase-9, myoblast transplantation and satellite cell activation in dystrophin-deficient muscle fibers

In Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), lack of dystrophin leads to progressive muscle degeneration, with DMD patients suffering from cardiorespiratory failure. Cell therapy is an alternative to life-long corticoid therapy. Satellite cells, the stem cells of skeletal muscles, do not completely compensate for the muscle damage in dystrophic muscles. Elevated levels of proinflammatory and profibrotic factors, such as metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), impair muscle regeneration, leading to extensive fibrosis and poor results with myoblast transplantation therapies. Omega-3 is an anti-inflammatory drug that protects against muscle degeneration in the mdx mouse model of DMD. In the present study, we test our hypothesis that omega-3 affects MMP-9 and thereby benefits muscle regeneration and myoblast transplantation in the mdx mouse. We observe that omega-3 reduces MMP-9 gene expression and improves myoblast engraftment, satellite cell activation, and muscle regeneration by mechanisms involving, at least in part, the regulation of macrophages, as shown here with the fluorescence-activated cell sorting technique. The present study demonstrates the benefits of omega-3 on satellite cell survival and muscle regeneration, further supporting its use in clinical trials and cell therapies in DMD.

State of the Art Reviews: Relationship Between Diet/ Physical Activity and Health

Obesity and 4 of the leading causes of death—heart disease, cancer, stroke, and type 2 diabetes mellitus—are related to lifestyle. The combination of a healthy weight, prudent diet, and daily physical activity clearly plays a role in primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of these and other chronic diseases. Because nearly 65% of the adult population is overweight or obese, weight loss and maintenance are central to this review article. Improved lipid profiles, blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, and euglycemia are associated with weight loss or a normal body weight; thus, maintaining a healthy weight is a universal recommendation for health. The methods for improving lifestyle described in the section on obesity include assessing nutritional status and stages of change of the client, setting realistic goals, eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables with low-fat sources of dairy and protein, and achieving appropriate physical activity levels. The importance of physicians discussing weight with clients and vice versa is stressed. The common features of lifestyle-related diseases make them amenable to similar lifestyle interventions.

Contemporary issues regarding nutrition in cardiovascular rehabilitation

In this article, we discuss certain contemporary and controversial topics in cardiovascular (CV) nutrition including recent data regarding the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet, the role of saturated fatty acids, red meat and the microbiome in CV disease and the current role of personalized CV nutrition. Findings from the PREDIMED study now demonstrate the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet even in the absence of heart disease. The study highlighted that even small, sustained and easily implementable changes to diet can provide significant health benefits even in Mediterranean regions. Likewise, observational data in secondary prevention show that increased adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with good long-term clinical outcomes among subjects with stable coronary heart disease. The role of saturated fats in the development of CV disease remains controversial, although data suggest that these fats are associated with modestly increased risk of CV events. In contrast, the obesity epidemic currently driving the CV risk worldwide is in large part due to excess consumption of refined carbohydrates. Furthermore, a growing body of evidence suggests that the intestinal microbiome is highly sensitive to lifestyle choices and may play a pivotal role in modulating CV disease development. For example, recent evidence linking processed and unprocessed meats to increased CV risk pointed to the gut microbial metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide as a potential culprit. Finally, given the high interindividual variability in response to interventions including diet, personalized nutrition has potential to play a major role in tailoring diets based on genetic make-up to maximize health benefits. This approach is still in its infancy but is highly promising.

Nutrition and Cardiovascular Disease: Finding the Perfect Recipe for Cardiovascular Health

The increasing burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) despite the progress in management entails the need of more effective preventive and curative strategies. As dietary-associated risk is the most important behavioral factor influencing global health, it appears the best target in the challenge against CVD. Although for many years, since the formulation of the cholesterol hypothesis, a nutrient-based approach was attempted for CVD prevention and treatment, in recent years a dietary-based approach resulted more effective in reducing cardiovascular risk worldwide. After the publication of randomized trials on the remarkable effects of the Mediterranean diet and the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet on CVD, new efforts were put on research about the effects of complex dietary interventions on CVD. The purpose of this paper is to review the evidence on dietary interventions in the prevention and disease modification of CVD, focusing on coronary artery disease and heart failure, the main disease responsible for the enormous toll taken by CVD worldwide.

Nutrigenomics, the Microbiome, and Gene-Environment Interactions: New Directions in Cardiovascular Disease Research, Prevention, and Treatment: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

Cardiometabolic diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide and are strongly linked to both genetic and nutritional factors. The field of nutrigenomics encompasses multiple approaches aimed at understanding the effects of diet on health or disease development, including nutrigenetic studies investigating the relationship between genetic variants and diet in modulating cardiometabolic risk, as well as the effects of dietary components on multiple "omic" measures, including transcriptomics, metabolomics, proteomics, lipidomics, epigenetic modifications, and the microbiome. Here, we describe the current state of the field of nutrigenomics with respect to cardiometabolic disease research and outline a direction for the integration of multiple omics techniques in future nutrigenomic studies aimed at understanding mechanisms and developing new therapeutic options for cardiometabolic disease treatment and prevention.

High-Molecular-Weight β-Glucan Decreases Serum Cholesterol Differentially Based on the CYP7A1 rs3808607 Polymorphism in Mildly Hypercholesterolemic Adults

BACKGROUND

β-Glucan, a soluble fiber with viscous property, has a documented cholesterol-lowering effect. The molecular weight (MW) of β-glucan, which contributes to viscosity, and an individual's genotype might influence the cholesterol-lowering efficacy of β-glucan.

OBJECTIVES

This study was designed to determine whether the cholesterol-lowering efficacy of barley β-glucan varied as a function of MW and the daily dose consumed. Our second aim was to determine whether any gene-diet interactions are associated with the cholesterol-lowering efficacy of β-glucan.

METHODS

In a randomized controlled crossover trial, 30 mildly hypercholesterolemic adults [12 men and 18 women, aged 27-78 y; body mass index (in kg/m(2)): 20-40; total cholesterol (TC): 5.0-8.0 mmol/L; LDL cholesterol: 2.7-5.0 mmol/L] were randomly assigned to receive a breakfast that contained either barley β-glucan at 3 g high MW (HMW)/d, 5 g low MW (LMW)/d, or 3 g LMW/d or a control diet, each for 5 wk. The washout period between the phases was 4 wk. Fasting blood samples were collected at the start and end of each phase for blood lipid analysis and genotyping.

RESULTS

Consumption of 3 g HMW β-glucan/d lowered TC by -0.12 mmol/L (95% CI: -0.24, -0.006 mmol/L) compared with the control diet (P= 0.0046), but the LMW β-glucan, at either 3 g/d or 5 g/d, did not change serum cholesterol concentrations. This effect of HMW β-glucan was associated with gene-diet interaction, whereby individuals with the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs3808607-G allele (GG or GT) of the cytochrome P450 family 7 subfamily A member 1 gene (CYP7A1) had greater responses to 3 g HMW β-glucan/d in lowering TC than TT carriers (P= 0.0006).

CONCLUSIONS

The HMW β-glucan rather than LMW β-glucan reduced circulating TC effectively in mildly hypercholesterolemic adults. The cholesterol-lowering effect of β-glucan may also be determined by the genetic characteristics of an individual. These data show that individuals carrying theCYP7A1SNP rs3808607-G allele are more responsive to the cholesterol-lowering effect of β-glucan with HMW than TT carriers. This trial was registered atclinicaltrials.govasNCT01408719.

Ayurnutrigenomics: Ayurveda-inspired personalized nutrition from inception to evidence

Ayurveda proclaims food and drugs are intersecting concepts that are vital for human survival and for the prevention and mitigation of diseases. Food interferes with the molecular mechanisms of an organism's “physiome”. It is consumed in large amounts compared to any drug. Hence, research on its effect and interaction with genome is highly relevant toward understanding diseases and their therapies. Ayurgenomics presents a personalized approach in the predictive, preventive, and curative aspects of stratified medicine with molecular variability, which embodies the study of interindividual variability due to genetic variability in humans for assessing susceptibility, and establishing diagnosis and prognosis, mainly on the basis of the constitution type of a person's Prakriti. Ayurnutrigenomics is an emerging field of interest pervading Ayurveda systems biology, where the selection of a suitable dietary, therapeutic, and lifestyle regime is made on the basis of clinical assessment of an individual maintaining one's Prakriti. This Ayurveda-inspired concept of personalized nutrition is a novel concept of nutrigenomic research for developing personalized functional foods and nutraceuticals suitable for one's genetic makeup with the help of Ayurveda. Here, we propose and present this novel concept of Ayurnutrigenomics and its emerging areas of research, which may unfold future possibilities toward smart yet safe therapeutics.

Saturated Fats Versus Polyunsaturated Fats Versus Carbohydrates for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Treatment

The effects of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk are modulated by the nutrients that replace them and their food matrices. Replacement of SFAs with polyunsaturated fatty acids has been associated with reduced CVD risk, although there is heterogeneity in both fatty acid categories. In contrast, replacement of SFAs with carbohydrates, particularly sugar, has been associated with no improvement or even a worsening of CVD risk, at least in part through effects on atherogenic dyslipidemia, a cluster of traits including small, dense low-density lipoprotein particles. The effects of dietary SFAs on insulin sensitivity, inflammation, vascular function, and thrombosis are less clear. There is growing evidence that SFAs in the context of dairy foods, particularly fermented dairy products, have neutral or inverse associations with CVD. Overall dietary patterns emphasizing vegetables, fish, nuts, and whole versus processed grains form the basis of heart-healthy eating and should supersede a focus on macronutrient composition.

Omega-3 fatty acids and the genetic risk of early onset acute coronary syndrome

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Recent gene-environment interaction studies suggest that diet may influence an individual's genetic predisposition to cardiovascular risk. We evaluated whether omega-3 fatty acid intake may influence the risk for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) conferred by genetic polymorphisms among patients with early onset ACS.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Our population consisted of 705 patients of white European descent enrolled in GENESIS-PRAXY, a multicenter cohort study of patients aged 18-55 years and hospitalized with ACS. We used a case-only design to investigate interactions between the omega-3 index (a validated biomarker of omega-3 fatty acid intake) and 30 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) robustly associated with ACS. We used logistic regression to assess the interaction between each SNP and the omega-3 index. Interaction was also assessed between the omega-3 index and a genetic risk score generated from the 30 SNPs. All models were adjusted for age and sex. An interaction for increased ACS risk was found between carriers of the chromosome 9p21 variant rs4977574 and low omega-3 index (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.07-2.32, p = 0.02), but this was not significant after correction for multiple testing. Similar results were obtained in the adjusted model (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.05-2.29, p = 0.03). We did not observe any interaction between the genetic risk score or any of the other SNPs and the omega-3 index.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that omega-3 fatty acid intake may modify the genetic risk conferred by chromosome 9p21 variation in the development of early onset ACS and requires independent replication.

Association of self-reported familial history of cardiometabolic disease with metabolic syndrome in apparently healthy urban Colombian men

OBJECTIVES

Evidence about the relationship between familial history (FH) of cardiometabolic disease (CMD) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Latin American populations is scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of FH of CMD and of dyslipidemia and obesity with MetS in healthy men.

METHODS

One-hundred-twenty one individuals were recruited. Waist circumference and blood pressure were measured by a trained researcher using standard techniques. Glycemia and lipid profile were determined by colorimetric assays. A survey to record personal data and family antecedents in siblings, aunts/uncles, parents, and grandparents was conducted by trained interviewers.

RESULTS

Individuals having three or more familial antecedents were associated with high triglycerides level even after adjusting by age, sedentarism, fat and carbohydrates intake, and alcohol consumption. After adjusting for the same variables, FH of dyslipidemia and hypertension was also associated with high triglycerides levels and elevated waist circumference, respectively. The FH of stroke was associated with high blood pressure after adjusting for the rest of familial antecedents, and with MetS in all adjustment models.

DISCUSSION

the findings of association of this study together with the previous reports are evidence of the importance of hereditary component as independent predictor of cardiovascular risk factors and its clustering, as well as of possible specific association patterns between FH of CMD and MetS depending on evaluated population in terms of ethnic groups and geographic region. Further studies are required in other populations, as well as exploration of genetic markers of CMD regarding to MetS.

Personalized nutrition and cardiovascular disease prevention: From Framingham to PREDIMED

Diet is considered the cornerstone for the prevention of age-related diseases, and a low-fat diet has been considered for decades as the most suitable alternative to achieve this goal. However, mounting evidence supports the efficacy of other alternatives, such as the Mediterranean diet. Nevertheless, it is well known that people present a dramatic range of responses to similar environmental challenges, and it has been shown that some of this variability is rooted in the genome. In fact, this knowledge is driving the field of nutrigenetics. The finding of interactions between diet and genetic variants has led to intense research and debate about the effectiveness of personalized nutrition as a more suitable tool for the prevention of chronic diseases than the traditional 1-size-fits-all recommendations. Here, we provide some of our own examples that illustrate the progression of nutrigenetics through the years, from the initial studies within the Framingham Heart Study, to the most recent use of large consortia, such as the Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology, and ending up with large dietary intervention studies, such as the PREDIMED (Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea) study. These recent approaches are providing more robust and clinically relevant gene-diet interactions. Therefore, although the current evidence level of applying genomic information to tailoring is at its early stages, the prospect of widespread incorporation of nutrigenetics to the clinical practice is encouraging.

Fibrates and fish oil, but not corn oil, up-regulate the expression of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) gene

Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) is a plasma protein that reduces high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (chol) levels and may increase atherosclerosis risk. n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are natural ligands, and fibrates are synthetic ligands for peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-alpha (PPARα), a transcription factor that modulates lipid metabolism. In this study, we investigated the effects of PUFA oils and fibrates on CETP expression. Hypertriglyceridemic CETP transgenic mice were treated with gemfibrozil, fenofibrate, bezafibrate or vehicle (control), and normolipidemic CETP transgenic mice were treated with fenofibrate or with fish oil (FO; n-3 PUFA rich), corn oil (CO, n-6 PUFA rich) or saline. Compared with the control treatment, only fenofibrate significantly diminished triglyceridemia (50%), whereas all fibrates decreased the HDL-chol level. Elevation of the CETP liver mRNA levels and plasma activity was observed in the fenofibrate (53%) and gemfibrozil (75%) groups. Compared with saline, FO reduced the plasma levels of nonesterified fatty acid (26%), total chol (15%) and HDL-chol (20%). Neither of the oil treatments affected the plasma triglyceride levels. Compared with saline, FO increased the plasma adiponectin level and reduced plasma leptin levels, whereas CO increased the leptin levels. FO, but not CO, significantly increased the plasma CETP mass (90%) and activity (23%) as well as increased the liver level of CETP mRNA (28%). In conclusion, fibrates and FO, but not CO, up-regulated CETP expression at both the mRNA and protein levels. We propose that these effects are mediated by the activation of PPARα, which acts on a putative PPAR response element in the CETP gene.

Metabolic Stimulation of Plant Phenolics for Food Preservation and Health

Plant phenolics as secondary metabolites are key to a plant's defense response against biotic and abiotic stresses. These phytochemicals are also increasingly relevant to food preservation and human health in terms of chronic disease management. Phenolic compounds from different food crops with different chemical structures and biological functions have the potential to act as natural antioxidants. Plant-based human foods are rich with these phenolic phytochemicals and can be used effectively for food preservation and bioactive enrichments through metabolic stimulation of key pathways. Phenolic metabolites protect against microbial degradation of plant-based foods during postharvest storage. Phenolics not only provide biotic protection but also help to counter biochemical and physical food deteriorations and to enhance shelf life and nutritional quality. This review summarizes the role of metabolically stimulated plant phenolics in food preservation and their impact on the prevention of oxidative stress–induced human diseases.

Modeling inflammatory bowel disease: the zebrafish as a way forward

The zebrafish has proved to be an informative model of vertebrate development and, more recently, an emerging model of human disease. The realization of the full potential of the zebrafish as a disease model lies in two interdependent areas. The first is an appreciation that the often overlooked strength of this species lies in allowing the design of experiments that address the interplay of genetics and the environment in a manipulable manner. The second is in the application and further development of gene targeting approaches. These twin features will be addressed in this review in the context of modeling inflammatory bowel disease.

A gene variant in the Atp10d gene associates with atherosclerotic indices in Japanese elderly population

BACKGROUND

ATP10D belongs to a subfamily of P-type ATPases implicated in phospholipids translocation from the exoplasmic to the cytoplasmic leaflet of cellular biological membrane. Previous genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified that a variant in Atp10d gene (rs2351791) associates with serum lipid profile and myocardial infarction. The objective of this study is to assess the effect of this variant on atherosclerosis in Japanese elderly population.

METHOD

Consecutive autopsy cases registered in JG-SNP study were recruited (n = 1536). The samples were pathologically assessed for atherosclerosis using macroscopic examination of the formalin-fixed arteries, and coronary stenotic index (CSI), intracranial atherosclerotic index (ICAI) and pathological atherosclerotic index (PAI), which represent systemic arteries were calculated. The variant rs2351791 (G/T) in Atp10d gene was genotyped by Taqman genotyping assay and association determined.

RESULT

Both CSI and ICAI were significantly higher in GG genotype than GT genotype and TT genotype (p = 0.003 and p = 0.001, respectively). Both associations remained significant in minor allele dominant model after adjusting for age, hypertension, diabetes, HDL, smoking and drinking (p = 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). PAI was not associated with this variant. Consistent with the previous report, plasma HDL cholesterol level was lower in GG genotype compared to GT + TT genotypes (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The rs2351791 SNP in the Atp10d gene affects the susceptibility for cardiac and intracranial vascular stenosis in the elderly Japanese population.

Nutrigenomics: a case for the common soil between cardiovascular disease and cancer

The border between health and disease is often set by a complex equilibrium between two elements, genetics on one hand, lifestyle on the other, To know it better, means to give new weapons, often crucial, in the hands of the doctors and their patients. It also means to adjust therapies, to find out which drug is good for a patient and which prevention strategy will work better for him/her. Nutrigenomics is an approach to individualize or personalize food and nutrition, and ultimately health, by tailoring the food to the individual genotype. In this review, we present the interaction between certain genetic polymorphisms and diet and increased cardiovascular or cancer risk. It is, indeed, now clear that a large number of bioactive food components may provide risk or protection at several stages of both atherosclerosis and cancer formation processes. We are giving here few examples of gene-food interactions relevant for both the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, since a common soil could exist in the genesis of cardiovascular disease and of some types of cancer (mainly gastrointestinal tract and hormone-dependent).

n-3 Fatty acids inhibit transcription of human IL-13: implications for development of T helper type 2 immune responses

Fish oil supplementation during pregnancy has been associated with lower levels of cord blood IL-13, suggesting that the administration of n-3 fatty acids may attenuate the development of allergic disease. The present study aimed to investigate the mechanism by which n-3 fatty acid administration influences the production of IL-13. Pregnant BALB/c mice were fed nutritionally complete high-fat diets (15 %, w/w) with an n-3 fatty acid-enriched (DHA 1 %, w/w) or control diet (0 % DHA) immediately following delivery. Pups were exposed during suckling and weaned to the maternal diet for the remainder of the study. The production of IL-13, IL-4, IL-10 and interferon-γ from the splenocytes of ovalbumin (ova)-sensitised animals was assessed following in vitro ova stimulation or unstimulated conditions. Human T helper type 2 (Th2) cells were mitogen-stimulated in the presence or absence of DHA (10 μM) and assessed for IL-13 and IL-4 expression using intracellular flow cytometry. The influence on transcriptional activation was studied using a human IL-13 promoter reporter construct and electromobility shift assay. Ova-activated splenocytes from DHA-fed mice produced less IL-13 (57.2 (se 21.7) pg/ml) and IL-4 (7.33 (SE 3.4) pg/ml) compared with cells from the animals fed the control diet (161.5 (SE 45.0), P< 0.05; 33.2 (SE 11.8), P< 0.05). In vitro, DHA inhibited the expression of IL-13 protein from human Th2 cells as well as transcriptional activation and binding of the transcription factors cyclic AMP response element binding and activating transcription factor 2 to the human IL-13 promoter. These data indicate the potential of n-3 fatty acids to attenuate IL-13 expression, and suggest that they may subsequently reduce allergic sensitisation and the development of allergic disease.

Associations between apolipoprotein E genotype, diet, body mass index, and serum lipids in Lithuanian adult population

Background

Apolipoprotein E (APOE) polymorphism is associated with lipid levels. Some studies have reported that blood lipid response to diet or obesity varies depending on APOE genotypes. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of APOE genotypes, the intake of saturated fatty acids (SFA), and obesity on serum lipid levels in Lithuanian adult population.

Methodology/Principal Findings

A cross-sectional health survey was carried out in five municipalities of Lithuania. The random sample was obtained from lists of 25–64 year-old inhabitants registered at primary health care centres. The data from 996 subjects (416 men and 580 women) were analysed in this study. Two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (rs429358 and rs7412) were assessed using a real-time polymerase chain reaction. 24-hour recall and food frequency questionnaire were used for evaluation of dietary habits. Serum lipids were determined using enzymatic methods.

Men and women with the APOE2 genotype had the lowest level of total cholesterol (TC) (p = 0.002 for men, and p = 0.02 for women) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (p<0.001). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that age, genotype APOE2, SFA intake, and body mass index (BMI) were significant determinants of TC and LDL-C level (with p values ranging from 0.043 to 0.001). Our data did not reveal any statistically significant interactions between APOE genotype and SFA intake or between APOE genotype and BMI regarding TC and LDL-C level (all p>0.05). However, the predictive power of the regression model for LDL-C improved when gene-BMI interaction and gene-BMI interaction plus gene-nutrient interaction were added (p = 0.04 and p = 0.032 for R² change, respectively).

Conclusions/Significance

APOE genotypes, SFA intake, and obesity were found to be associated with blood lipid levels in Lithuanian adult population. Analysis of gene-diet and gene-obesity interactions did not confirm that the effects of diet and obesity on TC and LDL-C level significantly depended on APOE genotype.

Genetic variation in APOB, PCSK9, and ANGPTL3 in carriers of pathogenic autosomal dominant hypercholesterolemic mutations with unexpected low LDL-Cl Levels

Autosomal Dominant Hypercholesterolemia (ADH) is caused by LDLR and APOB mutations. However, genetically diagnosed ADH patients do not always exhibit the expected hypercholesterolemic phenotype. Of 4,669 genetically diagnosed ADH patients, identified through the national identification screening program for ADH, 75 patients (1.6%) had LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels below the 50th percentile for age and gender prior to lipid-lowering therapy. The genes encoding APOB, PCSK9, and ANGPTL3 were sequenced in these subjects to address whether monogenic dominant loss-of-function mutations underlie this paradoxical phenotype. APOB mutations, resulting in truncated APOB, were found in five (6.7%) probands, reducing LDL-C by 56%. Rare variants in PCSK9, and ANGPTL3 completely correcting the hypercholesterolemic phenotype were not found. The common variants p.N902N, c.3842+82T>A, p.D2312D, and p.E4181K in APOB, and c.1863+94A>G in PCSK9 were significantly more prevalent in our cohort compared to the general European population. Interestingly, 40% of our probands carried at least one minor allele for all four common APOB variants compared to 1.5% in the general European population. While we found a low prevalence of rare variants in our cohort, our data suggest that regions in proximity of the analyzed loci, and linked to specific common haplotypes, might harbor additional variants that correct an ADH phenotype.

The APOA1/C3/A4/A5 cluster and markers of allostatic load in the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The APOA1/C3/A4/A5 cluster encodes key regulators of plasma lipids. Interactions between dietary factors and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the cluster have been reported. Allostatic load, or physiological dysregulation in response to stress, has been implicated in shaping health disparities in ethnic groups. We aimed to determine the association between polymorphisms in the APOA1/C3/A4/A5 cluster with allostatic load parameters, alone, and in interaction with dietary fat intake in Puerto Ricans adults.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Data on demographic and anthropometric measures, lifestyle behaviors, and medication use, as well as blood and urine samples for biomarker analysis, were obtained from participants of the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study (n=821, age 45-75 y). The 12 polymorphisms analyzed were not associated with allostatic load parameters. Significant interactions were observed between dietary fat intake and APOA1-75 in association with waist circumference (WC), (P=0.005), APOC3-640 with diastolic blood pressure (DBP), (P=0.003), and APOA4 N147S and APOA5 S19W with systolic blood pressure (SBP), (P=0.001 and P=0.002, respectively). Puerto Ricans homozygous for the common allele of APOA1-75, APOA4 N147S and APOA5 S19W had lower WC and SBP when consuming <31% of total fat from energy, than participants with the minor allele. Participants heterozygous for APOC3-640 had lower DBP at total fat intake ≥31% from energy.

CONCLUSION

SNPs in APOA1/C3/A4/A5, as modulated by dietary fat intake, appear to influence allostatic load parameters in Puerto Ricans.

Role of β₂-adrenergic receptor polymorphisms on body weight and body composition response to energy restriction in obese women: preliminary results

We investigated the role of common β2-adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) rs1042714 (Gln27Glu) and rs1042713 (Arg16Gly) polymorphisms on body weight and body composition response to 12-week energy-restricted diet in women. The study comprised 78 Spanish obese (BMI: 34.0 ± 2.8 kg/m²) women (age: 36.7 ± 7 years). We measured (before and after the dietary intervention) weight and height, and BMI calculated. Moreover, body fat mass and lean mass (LM) were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. We observed an interaction effect between the Gln27Glu polymorphism and diet-induced changes on body weight (P = 0.006), BMI (P = 0.004), and LM (P = 0.001). Women carrying the Glu allele had a greater reduction in body weight than non-Glu allele carriers (9.5 ± 2.9 vs. 7.0 ± 3.5%, respectively, P = 0.002). Moreover, women with the Glu allele lost more LM than the Gln27Gln group (5.9 ± 2.7 vs. 4.0 ± 2.7%, respectively, P = 0.001). We did not find any significant interaction effect between the Arg16Gly polymorphism and diet-induced changes on the outcome variables (all P > 0.1). The results suggest that the ADRB2 Gln27Glu polymorphism has a modulating effect on diet-induced changes on body weight and body composition, and should be considered in future obesity treatments. These findings should be taken as preliminary and be replicated in further energy restriction studies with larger sample sizes.

Effect of estrogen receptor β A1730G polymorphism on ABCA1 gene expression response to postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy

The estrogen receptor β (ERβ) mediates the action of estrogen on metabolism of lipids and lipoprotein. Therefore, its gene is a promising candidate gene for cardiovascular disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the ERβ A1730G polymorphism modifies the metabolic response to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in postmenopausal women. The population included 60 normolipidemic postmenopausal women with equal numbers of each A1730G genotype followed during a 90-day experimental period. All subjects received oral estrogen together with a progestin therapy during the HRT. ABCA1 gene expression and serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations were measured at the beginning and end of the HRT trial. At baseline, ABCA1 gene expression, lipid or lipoprotein concentrations were not significantly different among the ERβ A1730G genotype groups. After HRT, however, subjects with GG genotype had a greater increase in ABCA1 gene expression (p = 0.002) and a trend toward greater increase in apoA-I (p = 0.058) than subjects carrying the A allele. An interaction effect between genotype and HRT effect was observed on ABCA1 gene expression. In conclusion, the positive changes of ABCA1 gene expression and apoA-I were affected by the ERβ A1730G polymorphism in women taking estrogen-progesterone therapy.

Gene-nutrient interactions and gender may modulate the association between ApoA1 and ApoB gene polymorphisms and metabolic syndrome risk

OBJECTIVE

Dyslipidemia is a key feature of the metabolic syndrome (MetS), which is determined by both genetic and dietary factors.

METHODS

We determined the relationships between ApoA1 and ApoB polymorphisms and MetS risk, and whether dietary fat modulates this in the LIPGENE-SU.VI.MAX study of MetS cases and matched controls (n = 1754).

RESULTS

ApoB rs512535 and ApoA1 rs670 major G allele homozygotes had increased MetS risk (OR 1.65 [CI 1.24, 2.20], P = 0.0006; OR 1.42 [CI 1.08, 1.87], P = 0.013), which may be, partly, explained by their increased abdominal obesity and impaired insulin sensitivity (P<0.05) but not dyslipidemia. Interestingly these associations derived primarily from the male GG homozygotes (ApoB rs512535 OR 1.92 [CI 1.31, 2.81], P = 0.0008; ApoA1 rs670 OR 1.50 [CI 1.05, 2.12], P = 0.024). MetS risk was exacerbated among the habitual high-fat consumers (>35% energy) (ApoB rs512535 OR 2.00 [CI 1.14, 3.51], P = 0.015; OR 1.58 [CI 1.11, 2.25], P = 0.012 for ApoA1 rs670). In addition a high monounsaturated fat (MUFA) intake (>14% energy) increased MetS risk (OR 1.89 [CI 1.08, 3.30], P = 0.026 and OR 1.57 [CI 1.10, 2.40], P = 0.014 for ApoB rs512535 and ApoA1 rs670, respectively). MetS risk was abolished among the habitual low-fat consumers (<35% energy). Saturated and polyunsaturated fat intake did not modulate MetS risk.

CONCLUSION

ApoB rs512535 and ApoA1 rs670 may influence MetS risk. Apparent modulation of these associations by gender and dietary fat composition suggests novel gene-gender-diet interactions.

Efeito dos ácidos graxos n-3 e n-6 na expressão de genes do metabolismo de lipídeos e risco de aterosclerose

A aterosclerose, principal responsável pela patogênese do infarto miocárdico e cerebral, bem como pela gangrena e por outras doenças vasculares periféricas, permanece como principal causa de morbidade e mortalidade nas populações "ocidentalizadas". Estima-se que 17,5 milhões de pessoas morreram por doenças cardiovasculares em 2005, o que representou 30% das causas de morte nesse ano, e que, em 2015, 20 milhões de pessoas morrerão por doenças cardiovasculares no mundo. Os ácidos graxos n-3, principalmente os de cadeia longa, encontrados nos peixes, têm-se mostrado particularmente úteis na prevenção e tratamento de doenças como dislipidemias, diabetes mellitus e obesidade, apresentando importante efeito cardioprotetor. Nesse contexto, pesquisas têm evidenciado que ao menos parte dos benefícios dos ácidos graxos eicosapentaenóico e docosahexaenóico sobre o risco de doenças cardiovasculares é decorrente da modulação de genes responsivos aos receptores ativados por proliferadores de peroxissomos e envolvidos no metabolismo lipídico. Nesta revisão, pretende-se expor alguns mecanismos de ação dos ácidos graxos n-3 e n-6 sobre o metabolismo de lipídeos e de lipoproteínas. Conclui-se que muitos aspectos que contribuem para o risco de doenças cardiovasculares são afetados pela ingestão de n-3. Além da redução de triglicérides, fatores como o aumento de adiponectina, a redução da concentração de colesterol plasmático e a melhora do transporte reverso de colesterol também são responsáveis pela redução do risco de aterosclerose promovida pelos ácidos graxos n-3. No entanto, ainda são necessários estudos adicionais para definir mais claramente os mecanismos celulares e moleculares responsáveis pelo efeito cardioprotetor dos ácidos graxos n-3.

Muscle transcriptomic profiles in pigs with divergent phenotypes for fatness traits

BACKGROUND

Selection for increasing intramuscular fat content would definitively improve the palatability and juiciness of pig meat as well as the sensorial and organoleptic properties of cured products. However, evidences obtained in human and model organisms suggest that high levels of intramuscular fat might alter muscle lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. We have analysed this issue by determining the transcriptomic profiles of Duroc pigs with divergent phenotypes for 13 fatness traits. The strong aptitude of Duroc pigs to have high levels of intramuscular fat makes them a valuable model to analyse the mechanisms that regulate muscle lipid metabolism, an issue with evident implications in the elucidation of the genetic basis of human metabolic diseases such as obesity and insulin resistance.

RESULTS

Muscle gene expression profiles of 68 Duroc pigs belonging to two groups (HIGH and LOW) with extreme phenotypes for lipid deposition and composition traits have been analysed. Microarray and quantitative PCR analysis showed that genes related to fatty acid uptake, lipogenesis and triacylglycerol synthesis were upregulated in the muscle tissue of HIGH pigs, which are fatter and have higher amounts of intramuscular fat than their LOW counterparts. Paradoxically, lipolytic genes also showed increased mRNA levels in the HIGH group suggesting the existence of a cycle where triacylglycerols are continuously synthesized and degraded. Several genes related to the insulin-signalling pathway, that is usually impaired in obese humans, were also upregulated. Finally, genes related to antigen-processing and presentation were downregulated in the HIGH group.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that selection for increasing intramuscular fat content in pigs would lead to a shift but not a disruption of the metabolic homeostasis of muscle cells. Future studies on the post-translational changes affecting protein activity or expression as well as information about protein location within the cell would be needed to to elucidate the effects of lipid deposition on muscle metabolism in pigs.

Genotype-by-diet interactions drive metabolic phenotype variation in Drosophila melanogaster

The rising prevalence of complex disease suggests that alterations to the human environment are increasing the proportion of individuals who exceed a threshold of liability. This might be due either to a global shift in the population mean of underlying contributing traits, or to increased variance of such underlying endophenotypes (such as body weight). To contrast these quantitative genetic mechanisms with respect to weight gain, we have quantified the effect of dietary perturbation on metabolic traits in 146 inbred lines of Drosophila melanogaster and show that genotype-by-diet interactions are pervasive. For several metabolic traits, genotype-by-diet interactions account for far more variance (between 12 and 17%) than diet alone (1-2%), and in some cases have as large an effect as genetics alone (11-23%). Substantial dew point effects were also observed. Larval foraging behavior was found to be a quantitative trait exhibiting significant genetic variation for path length (P = 0.0004). Metabolic and fitness traits exhibited a complex correlation structure, and there was evidence of selection minimizing weight under laboratory conditions. In addition, a high fat diet significantly increases population variance in metabolic phenotypes, suggesting decreased robustness in the face of dietary perturbation. Changes in metabolic trait mean and variance in response to diet indicates that shifts in both population mean and variance in underlying traits could contribute to increases in complex disease.

Nutrition, immunology, and genetics: future perspectives

This review surveys some of the areas in which nutrients have been shown to have an impact on specific immune functions, the use of molecular and genetic tools to study molecular responses to dietary factors,and the metabolic consequences of food. It also explores the relationships between nutrient molecules, genetic polymorphisms, and the biological system as a whole, while providing a short introduction to nutrition immunology, nutrient-gene interactions and the novel technologies employed in nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics research.

The Mediterranean diet protects against waist circumference enlargement in 12Ala carriers for the PPARγ gene: 2 years' follow-up of 774 subjects at high cardiovascular risk

The PPARγ gene regulates insulin sensitivity and adipogenesis. The Pro12Ala polymorphism of this gene has been related to fat accumulation. Our aim was to analyse the effects of a 2-year nutritional intervention with Mediterranean-style diets on adiposity in high-cardiovascular risk patients depending on the Pro12Ala polymorphism of the PPARγ gene. The population consisted of a substudy (774 high-risk subjects aged 55–80 years) of the Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea (PREDIMED) randomised trial aimed at assessing the effect of the Mediterranean diet for CVD prevention. There were three nutritional intervention groups: two of them of a Mediterranean-style diet and the third was a control group advised to follow a conventional low-fat diet. All the participants were genotyped by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). The results showed that carriers of the 12Ala allele allocated to the control group had a statistically significant higher change in waist circumference (adjusted difference coefficient = 2·37 cm; P = 0·014) compared with wild-type subjects after 2 years of nutritional intervention. This adverse effect was not observed among 12Ala carriers allocated to both Mediterranean diet groups. In diabetic patients a statistically significant interaction between Mediterranean diet and the 12Ala allele regarding waist circumference change was observed ( − 5·85 cm; P = 0·003). In conclusion, the Mediterranean diet seems to be able to reduce waist circumference in a high-cardiovascular risk population, reversing the negative effect that the 12Ala allele carriers of the PPARγ gene appeared to have. The beneficial effect of this dietary pattern seems to be higher among type 2 diabetic subjects.

Mecanismos de ação de compostos bioativos dos alimentos no contexto de processos inflamatórios relacionados à obesidade

É indiscutível o papel da dieta e dos alimentos na manutenção da saúde e na redução do risco de DCNT. Estudos epidemiológicos mostram que o aumento do consumo de alimentos de origem vegetal influencia positivamente a saúde, enquanto estudos in vitro e in vivo em modelo animal elucidam os mecanismos pelos quais compostos bioativos não nutrientes, presentes nos alimentos, atuam na manutenção da saúde e na redução do risco de doenças. A modulação da expressão de genes que codificam proteínas envolvidas em vias de sinalização celular ativadas em DCNT é um dos mecanismos de ação dos compostos bioativos, sugerindo que estes possam ser essenciais à manutenção da saúde. A biodisponibilidade dos compostos bioativos de alimentos, as suas rotas metabólicas e o modo de ação de seus metabólitos são importantes fatores no seu efeito nas DCNT. Todos esses aspectos são temas de investigações recentes, cujos resultados contribuem para a compreensão da ocorrência e desenvolvimento das DCNT e da sua relação com a dieta. Essa revisão visou discutir alguns dos mecanismos envolvidos na resposta inflamatória induzida pela obesidade, apresentar os compostos bioativos de alimentos que modulam essa resposta inflamatória e sua relação com o metabolismo desses compostos.

Admixture mapping of quantitative trait loci for blood lipids in African-Americans

Blood lipid levels, including low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides (TG), are highly heritable traits and major risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). Using individual ancestry estimates at marker locations across the genome, we present a novel quantitative admixture mapping analysis of all three lipid traits in a large sample of African-Americans from the Family Blood Pressure Program. Regression analysis was performed with both total and marker-location-specific European ancestry as explanatory variables, along with demographic covariates. Robust permutation analysis was used to assess statistical significance. Overall European ancestry was significantly correlated with HDL-C (negatively) and TG (positively), but not with LDL-C. We found strong evidence for a novel locus underlying HDL-C on chromosome 8q, which correlated negatively with European ancestry (P = .0014); the same location also showed positive correlation of European ancestry with TG levels. A region on chromosome 14q also showed significant negative correlation between HDL-C levels and European ancestry. On chromosome 15q, a suggestive negative correlation of European ancestry with TG and positive correlation with HDL-C was observed. Results with LDL-C were less significant overall. We also found significant evidence for genome-wide ancestry effects underlying the joint distribution of HDL-C and TG, not fully explained by the locus on chromosome 8. Our results are consistent with a genetic contribution to and may explain the healthier HDL-C and TG profiles found in Blacks versus Whites. The identified regions provide locations for follow-up studies of genetic variants underlying lipid variation in African-Americans and possibly other populations.

Nutrigenomics approaches to functional foods

By definition, functional foods benefit human health beyond the effect of nutrients alone. However, few are accompanied by convincing health claims, partly because human responses are variable. Nutritional biochemistry explains why polymorphisms in genes for the absorption, circulation, or metabolism of essential nutrients, such as n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, would affect the efficacy of that nutrient. However, functional foods often incorporate bioactive compounds, such as epigallocatechin-3-gallate, without considering the interaction with genetic polymorphisms. For either example there will be individuals whose genotype precludes their deriving significant benefit from an increased intake of such foods, and a small segment of the population that may be disadvantaged. Large-scale, whole-genome association studies are providing unprecedented understanding of the genetic basis of health and chronic disease. This rapidly evolving genomic science often fails to consider the interaction with environmental exposure like diet. It is important that the dietetics profession ensures rigorous nutrition science alongside genetic evaluation as part of future study design to derive informed information on gene-diet interactions that may enable clients to rationally select foods leading to optimal health or reduced risk of chronic disease.

Understanding the nutrigenomic definitions and concepts at the food-genome junction

The marked differences in individual response to dietary factors have led to major controversies in nutrition and puzzled nutrition scientists over the last century. The emerging field of nutrigenomics helps us to understand the basis for some of these differences and also promises us the ability to tailor diet based on individual genetic makeup. Great advances in Human Genome Project, documentation of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in candidate genes and their association with metabolic imbalances have gradually added new tests to the nutrigenomic panel. Studies based on ethnopharmacology and phytotherapy concepts showed that nutrients and botanicals can interact with the genome causing marked changes in gene expression. This has led to the commercial development of nutraceuticals and functional foods that can modify negative health effects of individual genetic profile bringing the field to the "food/genome" junction. Despite the promise of nutrigenomics to personalize diet, there is skepticism whether it can truly bring about meaningful modification of the risk factors connected to chronic diseases, due to the lack of large scale nutrition intervention studies. Several intervention studies currently underway in the United States and abroad (Israel, Spain, and France) will further help validate nutrigenomic concepts. France has already introduced a National Nutrition and Health Program to assess nutritional status and risk of major metabolic diseases. As the field(s) related to nutritional genomics advance in their scope, it is essential that: (a) strict guidelines be followed in the nomenclature and definition of the subdisciplines; and (b) the state/federal regulatory guidelines be updated for diagnostic laboratories, especially for those offering tests directly to the public (without a physician's request) to help protect the consumer.

Association of sequence variations in the gene encoding insulin-like growth factor binding protein 5 with adiponectin

BACKGROUND

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 5 (IGFBP5) binds to IGF and thus modulates IGF signaling pathway. We have shown earlier that the IGFBP5 gene was downregulated in the adipose tissue after 12-week carbohydrate diet with low insulinemic response.

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to examine the putative contribution of genetic variation of the IGFBP5 gene to the characteristics of metabolic syndrome and incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study (DPS).

METHODS

DPS is a longitudinal study where 522 subjects with impaired glucose tolerance were randomized to either lifestyle intervention group or control group. DNA was available from 507 subjects (mean body mass index (BMI) 31.2+/-4.5 kg/m(2), age 55+/-7 years). The eight single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected from HapMap database and genotyped by Taqman allelic discrimination protocol. The main results were confirmed in a larger cross-sectional study population (METSIM). In addition, the gene expression of IGFBP5 was studied in two previously published study populations (FUNGENUT and GENOBIN) of 124 subjects with insulin resistance (BMI 32.2+/-3.5 kg/m(2), age 57.7+/-7.4 years).

RESULTS

Three out of eight IGFBP5 markers (rs9341234, rs3276 and rs11575134) were significantly associated with circulating adiponectin concentrations in men. Furthermore, mRNA expression studies of subcutaneous adipose tissue showed that mRNA concentrations of IGFBP5 correlated with adiponectin concentrations in all subjects and in women. None of the IGFBP5 SNPs were associated with T2DM.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings show that IGFBP5 has a gender-specific association with adiponectin, which may modulate the development of metabolic syndrome.

Conjugated linoleic acid modulation of risk factors associated with atherosclerosis

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has been the subject of extensive investigation regarding its possible benefits on a variety of human diseases. In some animal studies, CLA has been shown to have a beneficial effect on sclerotic lesions associated with atherosclerosis, be a possible anti-carcinogen, increase feed efficiency, and act as a lean body mass supplement. However, the results have been inconsistent, and the effects of CLA on atherogenesis appear to be dose-, isomer-, tissue-, and species-specific. Similarly, CLA trials in humans have resulted in conflicting findings. Both the human and animal study results may be attributed to contrasting doses of CLA, isomers, the coexistence of other dietary fatty acids, length of study, and inter-and/or intra-species diversities. Recent research advances have suggested the importance of CLA isomers in modulating gene expression involved in oxidative damage, fatty acid metabolism, immune/inflammatory responses, and ultimately atherosclerosis. Although the possible mechanisms of action of CLA have been suggested, they have yet to be determined.