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Epidemiology and Population Health

Association between Transcription Factor AP-2B genotype, obesity, insulin resistance and dietary intake in a longitudinal birth cohort study

International Journal of Obesity volumeĀ 43,Ā pages 2095ā€“2106 (2019)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background

The development of obesity has a large genetic component, and the gene encoding the transcription factor 2 beta (TFAP2B) has been identified as one of the responsible factors. We investigated the effect of TFAP2B intron 2 variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) genotype on obesity, insulin resistance and dietary intake from 15 to 33 years of age.

Methods

The sample included both birth cohorts (originally nā€‰=ā€‰1176) of the longitudinal Estonian Children Personality Behaviour and Health Study. The association between TFAP2B genotype, and anthropometric measurements, glucose metabolism and dietary intake at ages 15, 18 and 25 years was assessed using the linear mixed-effects regression models. Differences in anthropometric measurements, biochemical measures, blood pressure and dietary intake between TFAP2B genotypes at different age, including data of the older cohort at age 33, were assessed by one-way ANOVA.

Results

Male homozygotes for the TFAP2B 5-repeat allele had significantly higher body weight, body mass index, sum of 5 skinfolds, proportion of body fat, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio, fasting insulin and HOMA index. In female subjects, homozygotes for the TFAP2B 5-repeat allele had significantly larger increase in the rate of change per year in body weight, body mass index and hip circumference between years 15 and 25. By age 33, the findings were similar. A decrease in daily energy intake from adolescence to young adulthood was observed. In males, heterozygotes had significantly smaller decrease in the rate of change per year in daily energy intake.

Conclusions

The association of TFAP2B with the development of obesity and insulin resistance is present throughout adolescence to young adulthood in males. In females the effect of TFAP2B on obesity appears later, in young adulthood. The TFAP2B effect is rather related to differences in metabolism than energy intake.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research (IUT20-40) and the European Commission Horizon 2020 Programme Projects CoCA (no 667302) and Eat2beNICE (no 728018). We are grateful to the participants of the ECPBHS and to the whole ECPBHS Study Team. Erika Comasco is a Marie Skłodowska Curie fellow and received funds from the Swedish Research Council (VR: 2015-00495), EU FP7-People-Cofund (INCA 600398) and SciLifeLab.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia

    Urmeli JoostĀ &Ā Inga Villa

  2. Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

    Erika ComascoĀ &Ā Lars Oreland

  3. Department of Chronic Diseases, National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia

    Toomas Veidebaum

  4. Division of Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Psychology, Estonian Centre of Behavioural and Health Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia

    Jaanus Harro

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  1. Urmeli Joost
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Correspondence to Jaanus Harro.

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Joost, U., Villa, I., Comasco, E. et al. Association between Transcription Factor AP-2B genotype, obesity, insulin resistance and dietary intake in a longitudinal birth cohort study. Int J Obes 43, 2095ā€“2106 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-019-0396-y

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