Genetic Effects ofFTOandMC4RPolymorphisms on Body Mass in Constitutional Types

Abstract

Sasang constitutional medicine (SCM), a Korean tailored medicine, categorizes human beings into four types through states of physiological imbalances and responsiveness to herbal medicine. One SCM type susceptible to obesity seems sensitive to energy intake due to an imbalance toward preserving energy. Common variants of fat mass and obesity associated (FTO) and melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) genes have been associated with increased body mass index (BMI) by affecting energy intake. Here, we statistically examined the association of FTO and MC4R polymorphisms with BMI in two populations with 1370 Koreans before and after SCM typing, and with the lowering of BMI in 538 individuals who underwent a 1-month lifestyle intervention. The increased BMI replicated the association with FTO haplotypes (effect size ≃ 1.1 kg/m2) and MC4R variants (effect size ≃ 0.64 kg/m2). After the lifestyle intervention, the carriers of the haplotype represented by the minor allele of rs1075440 had a tendency to lose more waist-to-hip ratio (0.76%) than non-carriers. The constitutional discrepancy for the accumulation of body mass by the effects of FTO and/or MC4R variants seemed to reflect the physique differences shown in each group of SCM constitutional types. In conclusion, FTO and MC4R polymorphisms appear to play an important role in weight gain, while only FTO variants play a role in weight loss after lifestyle intervention. Different trends were observed among individuals of SCM types, especially for weight gain. Therefore, classification of individuals based on physiological imbalance would offer a good genetic stratification system in assessing the effects of obesity genes.

Predicting type 2 diabetes using Sasang constitutional medicine

“…That study suggested the TE type was independently associated with abdominal obesity. Another study, reported by Cha et al . showed that higher obesity in the TE type was responsible of genetic association.…”

“…Common variants of fat mass and obesity‐associated and melanocortin 4 receptor genes have been associated with increased BMI by affecting energy intake. That study concluded fat mass and obesity‐associated and melanocortin 4 receptor polymorphisms appear to play an important role in weight gain, whereas only fat mass and obesity‐associated variants play a role in weight loss after lifestyle intervention, and such differences were observed among the SCT.…”

Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors Modify the Association between Melanocortin 4 Receptor Gene Variant and Obesity in Chinese Children and Adolescents

“…Another GWAS in adults of Indian Asian and European descent found that a common SNP rs12970134 at 154 kb downstream of MC4R was associated with waist circumference and insulin resistance [5]. The associations of rs17782313 or rs12970134 with obesity-related phenotypes were confirmed by several subsequent studies in different ethnicity and age groups [6–14]. However, it is not consistent in Chinese population.…”

Recent progress and prospects in Sasang constitutional medicine: A traditional type of physiome-based treatment

“…Thus, the TE and TY constitutions are identified with the second seesaw. This concept of a seesaw model is similar to that of Claude Bernard's concept of homeostasis in the processes that maintain the constancy (via various forms of balance) of the internal environment (Bernard, 2002).…”

“…Song studied the association of the Apolipoprotein A5 gene-1131T > C polymorphism with serum lipids and Sasang constitution (Cha et al, 2011). Kim studied the association between the genetic polymorphisms involved in multidrug resistance and the Sasang constitutions .…”