Interaction Effect of the Mediterranean Diet and an Obesity Genetic Risk Score on Adiposity and Metabolic Syndrome in Adolescents: The HELENA Study

Abstract

Obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are worldwide major health challenges. The Mediterranean diet (MD) is associated with a better cardiometabolic profile, but these beneficial effects may be influenced by genetic variations, modulating the predisposition to obesity or MetS. The aim was to assess whether interaction effects occur between an obesity genetic risk score (obesity-GRS) and the MD on adiposity and MetS in European adolescents. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess the interaction effects of an obesity-GRS and the MD on adiposity and MetS and its components. Interaction effects between the MD on adiposity and MetS were observed in both sex groups (p < 0.05). However, those interaction effects were only expressed in a certain number of adolescents, when a limited number of risk alleles were present. Regarding adiposity, a total of 51.1% males and 98.7% females had lower body mass index (BMI) as a result of higher MD adherence. Concerning MetS, only 9.9% of males with higher MD adherence had lower MetS scores. However, the same effect was observed in 95.2% of females. In conclusion, obesity-related genotypes could modulate the relationship between MD adherence and adiposity and MetS in European adolescents; the interaction effect was higher in females than in males.

Mediterranean Diet and Genetic Determinants of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome in European Children and Adolescents

“…Additional filters were applied: written in the English language, population based-studies from Europe or individuals of European ancestry and age range from birth to 18 years old within targeted individuals. A total of three articles were obtained with the mentioned inclusion criteria, although after proofreading, only one article met the inclusion criteria proposed later in this this review [ 38 ]. The reference lists of all included manuscripts were double checked in order to identify potential missing articles that could have been ignored through the initial search.…”

“…The obesity-GRS developed to predict the risk of adiposity and MetS in this cohort of European adolescents showed that when adherence of MD was high, certain individuals, based on their genotype, had lower BMI, WC or MetS score. On the other hand, a small fraction of the selected sample was not genetically predisposed to have better body composition or metabolic profile despite a high MD adherence, or they could even see their health status worsen at that point [ 38 ]. Another important finding in the mentioned study was the sex-specific differences observed when the genotype was influencing the relation to MD and adiposity and MetS, as the interaction effect was higher in females than in males [ 38 ].…”

“…On the other hand, a small fraction of the selected sample was not genetically predisposed to have better body composition or metabolic profile despite a high MD adherence, or they could even see their health status worsen at that point [ 38 ]. Another important finding in the mentioned study was the sex-specific differences observed when the genotype was influencing the relation to MD and adiposity and MetS, as the interaction effect was higher in females than in males [ 38 ]. Similarly, a study performed in European adults explored gene–MD and gene–sex interactions in terms of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) levels, showing that sex could be another relevant factor explaining differences in the effect of genetics on PUFAs [ 106 ].…”

“…It is highly relevant studying gene-MD interaction effects from early stages in life, knowing that the development and implementation of chronic diseases could happen from preschool age due to low adherence to MD [ 37 ]. In European youth, the individual’s genetic profile has been previously observed to modulate the effect of MD in terms of obesity and MetS [ 38 ]. Although different approaches have previously considered MD as the dietary factor associated with reduction of obesity or MetS in children and adolescents [ 39 , 40 ], gene-MD interaction effects have scarcely been examined in youth.…”

Lifestyle Risk Factors for Overweight/Obesity in Spanish Children

“…There are several factors that contribute to overweight and obesity development [ 7 ]. Genetics is one of the main predictors of overweight in children and adolescents [ 8 ]. On the other hand, dietary factors such as low fruit or vegetable intake [ 9 , 10 ], high sugar-sweetened beverages consumption [ 11 ] and high fat intake [ 12 ] have been associated with high obesity prevalence.…”