Common Variants in Lipid Metabolism-Related Genes Associate with Fat Mass Changes in Response to Dietary Monounsaturated Fatty Acids in Adults with Abdominal Obesity

Rare Variants of Obesity-Associated Genes in Young Adults with Abdominal Obesity

The increase in the prevalence of overweight, obesity and associated diseases is a serious problem. The aim of the study was to identify rare variants in obesity-associated genes in young adults with abdominal obesity in our population and to analyze information about these variants in other populations. Targeted high-throughput sequencing of obesity-associated genes was performed (203 young adults with an abdominal obesity phenotype). In our study, all of the 203 young adults with abdominal obesity had some rare variant in the genes associated with obesity. The widest range of rare and common variants was presented in ADIPOQ, FTO, GLP1R, GHRL, and INS genes. The use of targeted sequencing and clinical criteria makes it possible to identify carriers of rare clinically significant variants in a wide range of obesity-associated genes and to investigate their influence on phenotypic manifestations of abdominal obesity.

High producer variant of lipoprotein lipase may protect from hepatocellular carcinoma in alcohol-associated cirrhosis

Background & Aims

Progression of alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is driven by genetic predisposition. The rs13702 variant in the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene is linked to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. We aimed at clarifying its role in ALD.

Methods

Patients with alcohol-associated cirrhosis, with (n = 385) and without hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (n = 656), with HCC attributable to viral hepatitis C (n = 280), controls with alcohol abuse without liver damage (n = 366), and healthy controls (n = 277) were genotyped regarding the LPL rs13702 polymorphism. Furthermore, the UK Biobank cohort was analysed. LPL expression was investigated in human liver specimens and in liver cell lines.

Results

Frequency of the LPL rs13702 CC genotype was lower in ALD with HCC in comparison to ALD without HCC both in the initial (3.9% vs. 9.3%) and the validation cohort (4.7% vs. 9.5%; p <0.05 each) and compared with patients with viral HCC (11.4%), alcohol misuse without cirrhosis (8.7%), or healthy controls (9.0%). This protective effect (odds ratio [OR] = 0.5) was confirmed in multivariate analysis including age (OR = 1.1/year), male sex (OR = 3.0), diabetes (OR = 1.8), and carriage of the PNPLA3 I148M risk variant (OR = 2.0). In the UK Biobank cohort, the LPL rs13702 C allele was replicated as a risk factor for HCC. Liver expression of LPL mRNA was dependent on LPL rs13702 genotype and significantly higher in patients with ALD cirrhosis compared with controls and alcohol-associated HCC. Although hepatocyte cell lines showed negligible LPL protein expression, hepatic stellate cells and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells expressed LPL.

Conclusions

LPL is upregulated in the liver of patients with alcohol-associated cirrhosis. The LPL rs13702 high producer variant confers protection against HCC in ALD, which might help to stratify people for HCC risk.

Impact and implications

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a severe complication of liver cirrhosis influenced by genetic predisposition. We found that a genetic variant in the gene encoding lipoprotein lipase reduces the risk for hepatocellular carcinoma in alcohol-associated cirrhosis. This genetic variation may directly affect the liver, because, unlike in healthy adult liver, lipoprotein lipase is produced from liver cells in alcohol-associated cirrhosis.

Functionally Significant Variants in Genes Associated with Abdominal Obesity: A Review

The high prevalence of obesity and of its associated diseases is a major problem worldwide. Genetic predisposition and the influence of environmental factors contribute to the development of obesity. Changes in the structure and functional activity of genes encoding adipocytokines are involved in the predisposition to weight gain and obesity. In this review, variants in genes associated with adipocyte function are examined, as are variants in genes associated with metabolic aberrations and the accompanying disorders in visceral obesity.

Nutrient Patterns and Body Mass Index: A Comparative Longitudinal Analysis in Urban Black South African Adolescents and Adults

OBJECTIVE

We set out to evaluate the association between nutrient patterns and general adiposity in black South African adolescents and adults and to determine whether the interactions are longitudinally sustained over 24 months.

METHODS

Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to derive the nutrient patterns of 750 participants (250 adolescents between 13 and 17 years old and 500 adults who were 27 years or 45⁺ years old). PCA was applied to 25 nutrients, computed from the quantified food frequency questionnaire (QFFQ) over a 24 months period.

RESULTS

The nutrient patterns between adolescents and adults were similar over time; however, their associations with BMI were different. Among the adolescents, only the "plant-driven nutrients pattern" was significantly associated with a 0.56% (95% CI (0.33; 0.78); p < 0.001) increase in BMI. Among the adults, the "plant-driven nutrient pattern" (0.43% (95% CI (0.03; 0.85); p < 0.001) and the "fat-driven nutrients pattern" (0.18% (95% CI (0.06; 0.29); p < 0.001) were significantly associated with a BMI increase. Furthermore, the "plant-driven nutrient pattern", "fat-driven nutrient pattern" and the animal-driven nutrient pattern revealed sex differences in their association with BMI.

CONCLUSION

Urban adolescents and adults had consistent nutrient patterns, but their BMI relationships changed with age and gender, an important finding for future nutrition interventions.

Effects of Diets Enriched with Conventional or High-Oleic Canola Oils on Vascular Endothelial Function: A Sub-Study of the Canola Oil Multi-Centre Intervention Trial 2 (COMIT-2), a Randomized Crossover Controlled Feeding Study

Partial replacement of saturated fatty acids (SFA) with unsaturated fatty acids is recommended to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), including oleic acid, are associated with lower CVD risk. Measurement of flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery (FMD) is the gold standard for measuring endothelial function and predicts CVD risk. This study examined the effect of partially replacing SFA with MUFA from conventional canola oil and high-oleic acid canola oil on FMD. Participants (n = 31) with an elevated waist circumference plus ≥1 additional metabolic syndrome criterion completed FMD measures as part of the Canola Oil Multi-Centre Intervention Trial 2 (COMIT-2), a multi-center, double-blind, three-period crossover, controlled feeding randomized trial. Diet periods were 6 weeks, separated by ≥4-week washouts. Experimental diets were provided during all feeding periods. Diets only differed by the fatty acid profile of the oils: canola oil (CO; 17.5% energy from MUFA, 9.2% polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), 6.6% SFA), high-oleic acid canola oil (HOCO; 19.1% MUFA, 7.0% PUFA, 6.4% SFA), and a control oil blend (CON; 11% MUFA, 10% PUFA, 12% SFA). Multilevel models were used to examine the effect of the diets on FMD. No significant between-diet differences were observed for average brachial artery diameter (CO: 6.70 ± 0.15 mm, HOCO: 6.57 ± 0.15 mm, CON: 6.73 ± 0.14 mm; p = 0.72), peak brachial artery diameter (CO: 7.11 ± 0.15 mm, HOCO: 7.02 ± 0.15 mm, CON: 6.41 ± 0.48 mm; p = 0.80), or FMD (CO: 6.32 ± 0.51%, HOCO: 6.96 ± 0.49%, CON: 6.41 ± 0.48%; p = 0.81). Partial replacement of SFA with MUFA from CO and HOCO had no effect on FMD in participants with or at risk of metabolic syndrome.

Precision nutrition based on phenotypical traits and the (epi)genotype: nutrigenetic and nutrigenomic approaches for obesity care

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of this article is to rationally review and critically appraise the current knowledge in the most relevant nongenetic and genetic factors influencing obesity predisposition. This information may be translated into the implementation of personalized nutrition approaches involving precision nutrigenetic and nutrigenomic strategies for obesity monitoring and weight management.

RECENT FINDINGS

The importance and influence of several nongenetic contributors to obesity onset and individual responses to weight-loss interventions have been highlighted including the role of age, sex or perinatal feeding and others related to an individual's lifestyle and modifiable. Nutrigenetic studies have analysed potential interactions between polymorphisms influencing energy homeostasis/body composition and dietary factors in relation to adiposity phenotypes and therapy responsiveness. A second approach comprises the Nutrigenomic analysis of gene expression modifications in response to the consumption of specific nutrients or dietary bioactive compounds, which may involve epigenetic mechanisms including deoxyribonucleic acid methylation and micro-ribonucleic acid expression profiles.

SUMMARY

Taken together, these findings encompass the importance of taking into account up-to-date advances in Nutrigenetic and Nutrigenomic hallmarks, globally analysing the risk of weight gain and related outcomes after following nutrition counselling, this contributing to improve obesity care considering phenotypical traits and the genetic make-up for precision obesity care.

Polymorphisms in the stearoyl-CoA desaturase gene modify blood glucose response to dietary oils varying in MUFA content in adults with obesity

Diets varying in SFA and MUFA content can impact glycaemic control; however, whether underlying differences in genetic make-up can influence blood glucose responses to these dietary fatty acids is unknown. We examined the impact of dietary oils varying in SFA/MUFA content on changes in blood glucose levels (primary outcome) and whether these changes were modified by variants in the stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) gene (secondary outcome). Obese men and women participating in the randomised, crossover, isoenergetic, controlled-feeding Canola Oil Multicenter Intervention Trial II consumed three dietary oils for 6 weeks, with washout periods of ˜6 weeks between each treatment. Diets studied included a high SFA/low MUFA Control oil (36·6 % SFA/28·2 % MUFA), a conventional canola oil (6·2 % SFA/63·1 % MUFA) and a high-oleic acid canola oil (5·8 % SFA/74·7 % MUFA). No differences in fasting blood glucose were observed following the consumption of the dietary oils. However, when stratified by SCD genotypes, significant SNP-by-treatment interactions on blood glucose response were found with additive models for rs1502593 (P = 0·01), rs3071 (P = 0·02) and rs522951 (P = 0·03). The interaction for rs3071 remained significant (P = 0·005) when analysed with a recessive model, where individuals carrying the CC genotype showed an increase (0·14 (sem 0·09) mmol/l) in blood glucose levels with the Control oil diet, but reductions in blood glucose with both MUFA oil diets. Individuals carrying the AA and AC genotypes experienced reductions in blood glucose in response to all three oils. These findings identify a potential new target for personalised nutrition approaches aimed at improving glycaemic control.

Nutrient Patterns and Body Composition Parameters of Black South African Women

Obesity is more prevalent in black South African women than men. However, little is known about the nutrient patterns associated with body composition indices in black African women. Principle Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to 25 nutrients derived from quantified food frequency questionnaires (QFFQs) in 498 middle aged black South African women. Three nutrient patterns, the plant driven, animal driven and Vitamin C, sugar and potassium driven nutrient patterns, accounted for 59% of the variance of nutrient intake. Linear models of the body composition parameters as outcome variables indicated that a standard deviation increase in the animal driven nutrient pattern was significantly associated with increases in body mass index (BMI) (1.29 kg·m⁻² (95% CI, 0.54–2.04; p = 0.001), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) (26.30 cm² (7.97–44.63); p = 0.005), visceral adipose tissue (VAT) (9.88 cm² (5.13–14.63); p < 0.001), VAT/SAT ratio (0.01 (0.00–0.02); p = 0.018), whole body fat mass index (0.74 kg·m⁻² (0.25–1.22); p = 0.003), and whole body lean mass index (0.53 kg·m⁻² (0.23–0.83); p = 0.001). An increase in plant driven nutrient pattern was significantly associated with an increase in SAT of 20.45 cm² (0.47–40.43); p = 0.045. This study demonstrates that animal driven nutrient pattern, characterised by the consumption of more animal protein and fat nutrients, similar to the western diet is associated with increased body fat and lean mass.