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African genetic admixture is associated with body composition and fat distribution in a cross-sectional study of children

International Journal of Obesity volume 35, pages 60–65 (2011)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

Although differences in body composition parameters among African American (AA), Hispanic American (HA) and European American (EA) children are well documented, the factors underlying these differences are not completely understood. Environmental and genetic contributors have been evaluated as contributors to observed differences. This study evaluated the extent to which African or European ancestral genetic background influenced body composition and fat distribution in 301 peripubertal AA (n=107), HA (n=79) and EA (n=115) children aged 7–12.

Design:

Estimates of African admixture (AFADM) and European admixture (EUADM) were obtained for every subject using 142 ancestry informative DNA markers. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and computed tomography scanning were used to determine body composition and abdominal fat distribution, respectively. Multiple regression models were conducted to evaluate the contribution of admixture estimates to body composition and fat distribution.

Results:

Greater AFADM was associated with lower fat mass (P=0.0163), lower total abdominal adipose tissue (P=0.0006), lower intra-abdominal adipose tissue (P=0.0035), lower subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (P=0.0115) and higher bone mineral content (BMC) (P=0.0253), after adjusting for socio-economic status, sex, age, height, race/ethnicity and pubertal status. Greater EUADM was associated with lower lean mass (LM) (P=0.0056).

Conclusion:

These results demonstrate that ancestral genetic background contributes to racial/ethnic differences in body composition above and beyond the effects of racial/ethnic classification and suggest a genetic contribution to total body fat accumulation, abdominal adiposity, LM and BMC.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by National Institutes of Health grants R01 DK 51684–01, R01 DK 49779–01, National Institutes of Health CA 47888 Cancer Prevention and Control Training Program and National Institutes of Health CA 3R25CA047888–19S1 CURE supplement Cancer Prevention and Control Training Program; General Clinical Research Center grant M01 RR000032 from the National Center for Research Resources; and Clinical Nutrition Research Unit grant P30-DK56336.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition Sciences and the Nutrition and Obesity Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA

    M Cardel, P B Higgins, A L Willig, A D Keita, K Casazza, B A Gower & J R Fernández

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  1. M Cardel
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  2. P B Higgins
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  3. A L Willig
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  6. B A Gower
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  7. J R Fernández
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Correspondence to J R Fernández.

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Cardel, M., Higgins, P., Willig, A. et al. African genetic admixture is associated with body composition and fat distribution in a cross-sectional study of children. Int J Obes 35, 60–65 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2010.203

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