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Association between the APOA2 promoter polymorphism and body weight in Mediterranean and Asian populations: replication of a gene–saturated fat interaction

International Journal of Obesity volume 35, pages 666–675 (2011)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

The APOA2 gene has been associated with obesity and insulin resistance (IR) in animal and human studies with controversial results. We have reported an APOA2–saturated fat interaction determining body mass index (BMI) and obesity in American populations. This work aims to extend our findings to European and Asian populations.

Methods:

Cross-sectional study in 4602 subjects from two independent populations: a high-cardiovascular risk Mediterranean population (n=907 men and women; aged 67±6 years) and a multiethnic Asian population (n=2506 Chinese, n=605 Malays and n=494 Asian Indians; aged 39±12 years) participating in a Singapore National Health Survey. Anthropometric, clinical, biochemical, lifestyle and dietary variables were determined. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance was used in Asians. We analyzed gene–diet interactions between the APOA2 −265T>C polymorphism and saturated fat intake (⩾22 g per day) on anthropometric measures and IR.

Results:

Frequency of CC (homozygous for the minor allele) subjects differed among populations (1–15%). We confirmed a recessive effect of the APOA2 polymorphism and replicated the APOA2–saturated fat interaction on body weight. In Mediterranean individuals, the CC genotype was associated with a 6.8% greater BMI in those consuming a high (P=0.018), but not a low (P=0.316) saturated fat diet. Likewise, the CC genotype was significantly associated with higher obesity prevalence in Chinese and Asian Indians only, with a high-saturated fat intake (P=0.036). We also found a significant APOA2–saturated fat interaction in determining IR in Chinese and Asian Indians (P=0.026).

Conclusion:

The influence of the APOA2 −265T>C polymorphism on body-weight-related measures was modulated by saturated fat in Mediterranean and Asian populations.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute grants U 01 HL72524 and HL-54776, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, grant number DK075030 and by contracts 53-K06-5-10 and 58-1950-9-001 from the US Department of Agriculture Research Service and grant from the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (PR2008-268 and PR2009-392), the Generalitat Valenciana (GVACOMP2010-181, BEST10-211 and BEST10-032), the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC06) and the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBER CB06/03/0035, RD07/0067/0006, PI0890002 and PI070954), Spain.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nutrition and Genomics Laboratory, JM-USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA

    D Corella, O Coltell & J M Ordovas

  2. Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Unit, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain

    D Corella, J V Sorlí & M Sotos-Prieto

  3. CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain

    D Corella, J V Sorlí, M Sotos-Prieto, A García-Rios, R Estruch & J M Ordovas

  4. Department of Endocrinology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore

    E S Tai

  5. Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, Ministry of Health, Singapore, Singapore

    S K Chew

  6. Department of Computing Languages and Systems, Universitat Jaume I, Castellon, Spain

    O Coltell

  7. Reina Sofia University Hospital, Lipids and Atherosclerosis Research Unit, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain

    A García-Rios

  8. Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain

    R Estruch

  9. Department of Cardiovascular Epidemiology and Population Genetics, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, Spain

    J M Ordovas

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Corella, D., Tai, E., Sorlí, J. et al. Association between the APOA2 promoter polymorphism and body weight in Mediterranean and Asian populations: replication of a gene–saturated fat interaction. Int J Obes 35, 666–675 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2010.187

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2010.187

Keywords

  • gene–diet interaction
  • insulin resistance
  • saturated fat
  • APOA2

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