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Association between fat intake, physical activity and mortality depending on genetic variation in FTO

International Journal of Obesity volume 35, pages 1041–1049 (2011)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

We wanted to explore if FTO genotype interacts with fat intake, or leisure-time physical activity, on fat mass, lean mass and mortality.

Subjects and methods:

Among 22 799 individuals (44–74 years) in the population-based Malmö diet and cancer cohort that were genotyped for rs9939609 in FTO and had information on dietary intake (from a modified diet history method) and no history of diabetes, cancer or cardiovascular disease, 2255 deaths (including 1100 cancer and 674 cardiovascular deaths) occurred during 12.0 years of follow-up. Leisure-time physical activity was determined from a list of 17 different physical activities in a questionnaire. Body composition was measured using bioelectric impedance method.

Results:

FTO genotype associated strongly with both fat mass and lean mass (Ptrend<1 × 10−16 for both) but we found only significant interactions with fat intake, or physical activity, on fat mass (Pinteraction=0.01 and 0.004). No significant interaction between FTO genotype and fat intake (Pinteraction=0.72), or leisure-time physical activity (Pinteraction=0.07), on total mortality were observed. However, we observed a significant interaction between leisure-time physical activity and FTO genotype on cardiovascular mortality (Pinteraction=0.03). The highest vs lowest quintile of physical activity was associated with 46% (95% confidence interval, 17–64%) reduced cardiovascular mortality among TT-carriers (Ptrend=0.004), and 11% reduced cardiovascular mortality among A-allele carriers (Ptrend=0.68).

Conclusion:

Our results indicate that FTO genotype associates with both fat mass and lean mass, but the level of fat intake and physical activity only modify the association with fat mass. In addition, FTO genotype may modify the association between physical activity and cardiovascular mortality.

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Acknowledgements

This study is supported by the Lund University Diabetes Center (LUDC), the Swedish Medical Research Council, equipment grant from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, the Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation, the Region Skåne, the Malmö University Hospital, the Albert Påhlsson Research Foundation and the Crafoord foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Sciences in Malmö, Diabetes and Cardiovascular disease—genetic epidemiology, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden

    E Sonestedt, U Ericson & M Orho-Melander

  2. Department of Clinical Sciences in Malmö, Nutrition Epidemiology, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden

    B Gullberg & E Wirfält

  3. Department of Clinical Sciences in Malmö, Cardiovascular Epidemiology, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden

    B Hedblad

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  1. E Sonestedt
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  2. B Gullberg
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Correspondence to E Sonestedt.

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Sonestedt, E., Gullberg, B., Ericson, U. et al. Association between fat intake, physical activity and mortality depending on genetic variation in FTO. Int J Obes 35, 1041–1049 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2010.263

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2010.263

Keywords

  • FTO
  • physical activity
  • fat
  • mortality
  • epidemiology

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