Effects of a High-Protein/Low-Carbohydrate versus a Standard Hypocaloric Diet on Weight and Cardiovascular Risk Factors during 9 Months: Role of a Genetic Variation in the Cannabinoid Receptor Gene (CNR1) (G1359A Polymorphism)

Abstract

Objective: We decided to investigate the role of this polymorphism on cardiovascular risk factors and weight loss secondary to a high-protein/low-carbohydrate vs. a standard hypocaloric diet (1,000 kcal/day) over a period of 9 months. Material and methods: A nutritional evaluation was performed at the beginning and at the end of a 9-month period in which subjects received 1 of 2 diets (diet HP: high protein/low carbohydrate vs. S: standard diet). Results: One hundred and four patients (54.7%) had the genotype G1359G and 86 (45.3%) patients had G1359A (77 patients, 25.8%) or A1359A (9 patients, 3.7%) (A-allele-carriers). In subjects with both genotypes, the body mass index, weight, fat mass, waist circumference and systolic blood pressures decreased with both diets. After the diet type HP and in subjects with both genotypes, the glucose, leptin, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, insulin and HOMA-R levels decreased. After diet S and in all subjects, the total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and leptin levels decreased, too. Conclusion: Our interventional study didn't show a relationship between the rs1049353 CNR-1 polymorphism and body weight response after two different hypocaloric (low carbohydrate/high protein vs. standard) diets over a period of 9 months. However, a low-carbohydrate/high-protein diet for 9 months improved glucose metabolism in subjects with both genotypes.

The Endocannabinoid System and Eating Behaviours: a Review of the Current State of the Evidence

“…The rs1049353 SNP has also been associated with increased consumptions of complex carbohydrates and decreased dietary cholesterol and saturated fat [ 48 •]. Despite this, rs1049353 was not found to be associated with weight loss [ 49 ].…”

Cannabimimetic phytochemicals in the diet – an evolutionary link to food selection and metabolic stress adaptation?

“…The latter association is interesting as it could suggest that CB 1 receptors originally served to motivate lipid intake from meat are under dietary pressure in Western societies. Moreover, carriers of this SNP have a better lipid profile and a lower body mass index (Storr et al ., ; de Luis et al ., ). In contrast, in a small group of 60 diabetic individuals a lack of association of G1359A polymorphism with obesity, cardiovascular risk factors was reported (de Luis et al ., ).…”

G1359A Variant of the Cannabinoid Receptor Gene (rs1049353) and Obesity-Related Traits and Related Endophenotypes: A Meta-Analysis

“…After a 2-step screening by 2 different investigators, 22 articles met the inclusion criteria, including 10 cross-sectional [3, 7-10, 12, 13, 19-21], 4 case-control [4,5,22,23], 1 cohort [24], and 7 clinical trial [14,15,[25][26][27][28][29] studies (Fig. 1).…”