Abstract
Purpose: To examine the dietary patterns and their associations with the FTO and FGF21 gene variants among Emirati adults.Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, healthy adult male and female Emiratis (n = 194) were recruited from primary health care centers in Sharjah, UAE. Participants completed a 61-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. In addition, a saliva sample was obtained for the genetic analysis. Genotyping was performed for FTOrs9939609(A>T), FTOrs9930506(A>G), FGF21 rs838133 (A > G), and FGF21 rs838145 (A > G). Dietary patterns were derived using the principal component analysis. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association of dietary patterns with genetic variants.Results: Three dietary patterns were identified: “Western”: consisting of fast food, sweets, and processed meat; “Traditional Emirati” rich in vegetables, traditional Emirati-mixed-dishes and whole dairy; while whole grains, low-fat dairy, and bulgur were components of the “Prudent” pattern. Subjects carrying the A allele of the FTO rs9939609 were 2.41 times more likely to adhere to the Western pattern compared to subjects with genotype TT (OR:2.41; 95%CI:1.05–5.50). Compared with subjects with A/A, those carrying the G allele of the FTO rs9930506 were more likely to follow a Western diet (OR: 2.19; 95%CI: 1.00–4.97). Participants carrying the risk allele (A) of the FGF21 rs838133 were twice more likely to adhere to the Traditional pattern as compared to subjects with genotype GG (OR: 1.9, 95%CI: 1.01–3.57).Conclusions: The findings of this study suggested associations among specific FTO and FGF21 gene variants with dietary patterns among Emirati adults. These findings could be used to inform evidence-based targeted nutrition preventive recommendations, especially those aiming to limit intake of western type foods.
Highlights
During the last couple of decades, obesity has become a global epidemic of major clinical and public health significance
Despite evidence that genetic factors play a significant role in the etiology of obesity and the large number of obesity genes identified, relatively little evidence exists about the role of these genes in altering dietary intake; the latter being largely implicated in the etiology of obesity
The fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) and fibroblast growth factor −21 (FGF21), the prevalence of obesity was highest for the homozygous risk alleles, except for the FGF21 rs838145, where the highest obesity prevalence was observed among the heterozygous A/G (Figure 1)
Summary
During the last couple of decades, obesity has become a global epidemic of major clinical and public health significance. While the world is racing for the development of effective and evidence-based interventions and public health programs to halt the soaring rates of obesity, it remains paramount to have a clear understanding of the etiology of this condition. Similar to other metabolic disorders, obesity is a complex and multifactorial disease involving genetic, environmental, and psychosocial factors [4]. A considerable amount of research has addressed these factors, the majority has done so in isolation. Research has been limited to addressing either genetic, environmental, or psychosocial factors while much remaining unknown about the interaction of these factors among each other. Despite evidence that genetic factors play a significant role in the etiology of obesity and the large number of obesity genes identified, relatively little evidence exists about the role of these genes in altering dietary intake; the latter being largely implicated in the etiology of obesity
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