Effect of 15 BMI-Associated Polymorphisms, Reported for Europeans, across Ethnicities and Degrees of Amerindian Ancestry in Mexican Children

Abstract

In Mexico, the genetic mechanisms underlying childhood obesity are poorly known. We evaluated the effect of loci, known to be associated with childhood body mass index (BMI) in Europeans, in Mexican children from different ethnic groups. We performed linear and logistic analyses of BMI and obesity, respectively, in Mestizos and Amerindians (Seris, Yaquis and Nahuatl speakers) from Northern (n = 369) and Central Mexico (n = 8545). We used linear models to understand the effect of degree of Amerindian ancestry (AMA) and genetic risk score (GRS) on BMI z-score. Northern Mexican Mestizos showed the highest overweight-obesity prevalence (47.4%), followed by Seri (36.2%) and Central Mexican (31.5%) children. Eleven loci (SEC16B/rs543874, OLFM4/rs12429545/rs9568856, FTO/rs9939609, MC4R/rs6567160, GNPDA2/rs13130484, FAIM2/rs7132908, FAM120AOS/rs944990, LMX1B/rs3829849, ADAM23/rs13387838, HOXB5/rs9299) were associated with BMI and seven (SEC16B/rs543874, OLFM4/rs12429545/rs9568856, FTO/rs9939609, MC4R/rs6567160, GNPDA2 rs13130484, LMX1B/rs3829849) were associated with obesity in Central Mexican children. One SNP was associated with obesity in Northern Mexicans and Yaquis (SEC16B/rs543874). We found higher BMI z-score at higher GRS (β = 0.11, p = 0.2 × 10−16) and at lower AMA (β = −0.05, p = 6.8 × 10−7). The GRS interacts with AMA to increase BMI (β = 0.03, p = 6.08 × 10−3). High genetic BMI susceptibility increase the risk of higher BMI, including in Amerindian children.

Dyslipidemia, Obesity, and Ethnicity in Mexican Children

“…Among the urban communities and indigenous groups, there are different levels of westernized lifestyles [ 25 , 26 ]. In particular, the Yaqui group currently represents a population of 45,000 individuals divided into eight villages, who live in rural and urban communities, showing a high genetic and cultural mixture [ 10 , 27 , 28 ]. Currently, adult Yaquis are the most likely group to be overweight or obese among the populations in northern areas (87.6%) [ 29 ].…”

“…There is no straightforward explanation for why the AUC-ROCs outperform in Seris compared to the rest of the groups, but probably, the answer lies in a mixture of genetics, dietary patterns, and lifestyle. The Seri group is an isolated hunter-gatherer and fishing community in the desert of northwestern Mexico [ 31 ], with different Amerindian ancestry from the rest of the groups [ 10 , 11 ]. Seafood is an important part of the Seri diet [ 32 ].…”

“…All children from the Por tu Salud Project attended seven schools, four in Sonora, Hermosillo (the capital of the state; NM-Urban), one in CM-Puebla, and two indigenous schools from Sonora: Seris (NM-Seris) and Yaquis (NM-Yaquis). Indigenous schools are characterized by bilingualism and biculturalism, where at least one indigenous language and culture of a particular Amerindian group is taught [ 10 ]. The Secretaría de Educación de Cultura del Estado Sonora (Sonora State Secretary of Education and Culture) and Secretaría de Educación Pública del Estado Puebla (Puebla State Public Secretary of Education) oversaw the participant schools.…”

“…Genetic, cultural, and lifestyle differences among ethnicities, at least, factor into differences in obesity prevalence and other metabolic diseases in Mexico [ 9 , 10 , 11 ]. However, we scarcely know the prevalence of lipid disorders among children or how they may differ among ethnicities.…”

LMX1B rs10733682 Polymorphism Interacts with Macronutrients, Dietary Patterns on the Risk of Obesity in Han Chinese Girls

“…A latest study also found that the LMX1B rs10733682 is associated with BMI in Pima Indian adults [20]. Another LMX1B polymorphism loci rs3829849 was found to be associated with obesity in Central Mexican children [21]. Furthermore, genetic variants associated with BMI may also influence eating behavior, and it has been shown that the LMX1B rs10733682 is nominally associated with satiety responsiveness [22].…”