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Integrative Biology

Dietary fat and total energy intake modifies the association of genetic profile risk score on obesity: evidence from 48 170 UK Biobank participants

International Journal of Obesity volume 41, pages 1761–1768 (2017)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background:

Obesity is a multifactorial condition influenced by both genetics and lifestyle. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the association between a validated genetic profile risk score for obesity (GPRS-obesity) and body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference (WC) was modified by macronutrient intake in a large general population study.

Methods:

This study included cross-sectional data from 48 170 white European adults, aged 37–73 years, participating in the UK Biobank. Interactions between GPRS-obesity and macronutrient intake (including total energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate and dietary fibre intake) and its effects on BMI and WC were investigated.

Results:

The 93-single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) GPRS was associated with a higher BMI (β: 0.57 kg m−2 per s.d. increase in GPRS (95% confidence interval: 0.53–0.60); P=1.9 × 10−183) independent of major confounding factors. There was a significant interaction between GPRS and total fat intake (P(interaction)=0.007). Among high-fat-intake individuals, BMI was higher by 0.60 (0.52, 0.67) kg m−2 per s.d. increase in GPRS-obesity; the change in BMI with GPRS was lower among low-fat-intake individuals (β: 0.50 (0.44, 0.57) kg m−2). Significant interactions with similar patterns were observed for saturated fat intake (high β: 0.66 (0.59, 0.73) versus low β: 0.49 (0.42, 0.55) kg m−2, P(interaction)=2 × 10−4) and for total energy intake (high β: 0.58 (0.51, 0.64) versus low β: 0.49 (0.42, 0.56) kg m−2, P(interaction)=0.019), but not for protein intake, carbohydrate intake and fibre intake (P(interaction) >0.05). The findings were broadly similar using WC as the outcome.

Conclusions:

These data suggest that the benefits of reducing the intake of fats and total energy intake may be more important in individuals with high genetic risk for obesity.

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Acknowledgements

This research has been conducted using the UK Biobank resource (application 7155). We are grateful to UK Biobank participants. The UK Biobank was supported by the Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council, Department of Health, Scottish Government and the Northwest Regional Development Agency. It has also had funding from the Welsh Assembly Government and the British Heart Foundation. The research was designed, conducted, analysed and interpreted by the authors entirely independently of the funding sources.

Author contributions

CAC-M, JPP, JMRG and NS contributed to the conception and design of the study, advised on all statistical aspects and interpreted the data. CAC-M, DML, YG and FP performed the statistical analysis. CAC-M, JPP, JMRG and NS drafted the manuscript. CAC-M, DML, PW, JA, SI, SRG, YG, LS, FP, DFM, MESB, JPP, JMRG and NS reviewed the manuscript and approved the final version to be published. CAC-M, DML, JPP, JMRG and NS had full access to all the data in the study and took responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

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Author notes

  1. J P Pell, J M R Gill and N Sattar: These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. BHF Cardiovascular Research Centre, Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK

    C A Celis-Morales, S R Gray, L Steell, S Iliodromiti, P Welsh, Y Guo, F Petermann, J M R Gill & N Sattar

  2. Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK

    D M Lyall, J Anderson, D F Mackay & J P Pell

  3. School of Life Sciences, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK

    M E S Bailey

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Correspondence to N Sattar.

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Celis-Morales, C., Lyall, D., Gray, S. et al. Dietary fat and total energy intake modifies the association of genetic profile risk score on obesity: evidence from 48 170 UK Biobank participants. Int J Obes 41, 1761–1768 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2017.169

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