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Apolipoprotein A-II polymorphism: relationships to behavioural and hormonal mediators of obesity

International Journal of Obesity volume 36, pages 130–136 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Background:

The interaction between apolipoprotein A-II (APOA2) m265 genotype and saturated fat for obesity traits has been more extensively demonstrated than for any other locus, but behavioural and hormonal mechanisms underlying this relationship are unexplored. In this study, we evaluated relationships between APOA2 and obesity risk with particular focus on patterns of eating and ghrelin, a hormonal regulator of food intake.

Design:

Cross-sectional study.

Subjects:

Overweight and obese subjects (n=1225) were evaluated at baseline in five weight loss clinics in southeastern Spain.

Methods:

Behavioural data were assessed using a checklist of weight loss obstacles. Logistic regression models were fitted to estimate the risk of a specific behaviour associated with APOA2 genotype. Relationships between APOA2 genotype and saturated fat intakes for anthropometric traits and plasma ghrelin were evaluated by analysis of variance. To construct categorical variables to evaluate interactions, saturated fat intake was dichotomized into high and low according to the population median intake or as tertiles.

Results:

Homozygous minor (CC) subjects were more likely to exhibit behaviours that impede weight loss (‘Do you skip meals’, odds ratio (OR)=2.09, P=0.008) and less likely to exhibit the protective behaviour of ‘Do you plan meals in advance’ (OR=0.64, P=0.034). Plasma ghrelin for CC subjects consuming low saturated fat was lower compared with (1) CC subjects consuming high saturated fat, (2) TT+TC carriers consuming low saturated fat and (3) TT+TC carriers consuming high saturated fat (all P<0.05).

Conclusions:

APOA2 m265 genotype may be associated with eating behaviours and dietary modulation of plasma ghrelin. Expansion of knowledge of APOA2 and obesity to include modulation of specific behaviours and hormonal mediators not only broadens understanding of gene–diet interactions, but also facilitates the pragmatic, future goal of developing dietary guidelines based on genotype.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging, Grant Number 5P01AG023394-02 and NIH/NHLBI Grant Number HL54776 and NIH/NIDDK DK075030 and contracts 53-K06-5-10 and 58-1950-9-001 from the US Department of Agriculture Research Service.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jean Mayer US Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA

    C E Smith, J M Ordovás & Y-C Lee

  2. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, Murcia, Spain

    C Sánchez-Moreno & M Garaulet

Authors
  1. C E Smith
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  2. J M Ordovás
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  3. C Sánchez-Moreno
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  4. Y-C Lee
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  5. M Garaulet
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Correspondence to M Garaulet.

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Smith, C., Ordovás, J., Sánchez-Moreno, C. et al. Apolipoprotein A-II polymorphism: relationships to behavioural and hormonal mediators of obesity. Int J Obes 36, 130–136 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2011.24

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