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

Abstract

Effects of MC4R variants in previous Chinese population studies were inconsistent. Gene-environment interactions might influence the effect of MC4R variants on obesity, which was still unclear. We performed the study to clarify the association of variants near MC4R gene with obesity-related phenotypes and gene-environment interactions in Chinese children and adolescents. Two common variants (rs12970134 and rs17782313) near MC4R were genotyped in 2179 children and adolescents aged 7–18 years in Beijing of China. Associations between the variants and obesity-related phenotypes together with gene-environment interactions were analyzed. The A-alleles of rs12970134 were nominally associated with risk of overweight/obesity (Odds Ratios (OR) = 1.21, 95%CI: 1.03–1.44, P = 0.025) and BMI (β = 0.33 kg/m2, 95%CI: 0.02–0.63, P = 0.025), respectively. The rs12970134 was also associated with HDL-C (β = -0.03mmol/L per A-allele, 95%CI: -0.05, -0.01, P = 0.013) independent of BMI. In the further analysis, we found the significant interaction of rs12970134 and physical activity/sedentary behaviors on BMI (Pinteraction = 0.043). The rs12970134 was found to be associated with BMI only in children with physical activity<1h/d and sedentary behaviors ≥2h/d (BMI: β = 1.27 kg/m2, 95%CI: 0.10–2.45, P = 0.034). The association was not detected in their counterparts with physical activity≥1h/d or sedentary behaviors <2h/d. We identified the effect of MC4R rs12970134 on overweight/obesity and BMI, and we also found physical activity and sedentary behaviors modified the association between the rs12970134 and BMI in Chinese children and adolescents.

Association between Vegetable Consumption and Blood Pressure, Stratified by BMI, among Chinese Adolescents Aged 13–17 Years: A National Cross-Sectional Study

“…Data regarding demographic information, consumption of fruit and vegetables, and time spent on physical activity were collected with a standard questionnaire [ 14 ]. The frequency (days) and amount (servings, 1 serving ≈ 200 g) of fruit and cooked vegetables (not including pickles), separately, consumed in the past 7 days were investigated [ 13 ].…”

Effect of MC4R gene polymorphism on food intake in adolescents with overweight and obesity

“…[17], по результатам обследования 272 мужчин-европеоидов в возрасте 50-75 лет не выявили взаимосвязи rs17782313 с массой тела. Не было выявлено данной закономерности и в ходе исследования детей и подростков в Пекине [18].…”

Combined effects of the rs9810888 polymorphism in calcium voltage-gated channel subunit alpha1 D (CACNA1D) and lifestyle behaviors on blood pressure level among Chinese children

“…The second study was from Comprehensive Prevention project for Overweight and Obese Adolescents (CPOOA) in five elementary and middle schools of Haidian District of Beijing. The sampling strategies for the two study groups were described in detail in the previous studies[13–15]. The ALIR study recruited 937 children aged 14 to 17 years old.…”