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Nutrigenomics and molecular nutrition

UCP2 expression is associated with weight loss after hypocaloric diet intervention

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 71, pages 402–406 (2017)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

Although energy restriction contributes to weight loss, it may also reduce energy expenditure, limiting the success of weight loss in the long term. Studies have described how genetics contributes to the development of obesity, and uncoupling proteins 1 and 2 (UCP1 and UCP2) and beta-3-adrenoceptor (ADRB3) have been implicated in the metabolic pathways that culminate in this condition. This study aimed to evaluate how the UCP1, UCP2 and ADRB3 genes influence weight loss in severely obese women submitted to hypocaloric dietary intervention.

Subjects/Methods:

This longitudinal study included 21 women divided into two groups: Group 1 (Dietary intervention (G1)) consisted of 11 individuals with severe obesity (body mass index (BMI) ⩾40 kg/m2), selected for dietary intervention and Group 2 (Control (G2)) consisted of 10 normal-weight women (BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m2). Evaluation included weight (kg), height (m), waist circumference (cm), body composition, resting metabolic rate (RMR, kcal) and abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue collection. The dietary intervention required that G1 patients remained hospitalized in the university hospital for 6 weeks receiving a hypocaloric diet (1200 kcal per day). The statistical analyses included t-test for paired samples, Spearman correlation and multivariate linear regressions, with the level of significance set at P<0.05.

Results:

Weight (155.0±31.4–146.5±27.8 kg), BMI (58.5±10.5–55.3±9.2 kg/m2), fat-free mass (65.4±8.6–63.1±7.1 kg), fat mass (89.5±23.0–83.4±21.0 kg) and RMR (2511.6±386.1–2324.0±416.4 kcal per day) decreased significantly after dietary intervention. Multiple regression analyses showed that UCP2 expression contributed to weight loss after dietary intervention (P=0.05).

Conclusions:

UCP2 expression is associated with weight loss after hypocaloric diet intervention.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Vivian Marques Miguel Suen and Priscila Giacomo Fassini for their expert assistance. This work was supported by grants #2013/070179-6 and #2013/08916-4 from the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP). We thank the staff of the metabolic unit for their assistance during the development of this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil

    C Cortes-Oliveira, C F Nicoletti, M A de Souza Pinhel, B A P de Oliveira, D C G Quinhoneiro, N Y Noronha, J S Marchini, W A da Silva Júnior & C B Nonino

  2. Department of Surgery and Anatomy, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil

    W S Júnior

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  1. C Cortes-Oliveira
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Correspondence to C B Nonino.

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Cortes-Oliveira, C., Nicoletti, C., de Souza Pinhel, M. et al. UCP2 expression is associated with weight loss after hypocaloric diet intervention. Eur J Clin Nutr 71, 402–406 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2016.185

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