Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Genetic Background Roles within a Web-Based Nutritional Intervention: The Food4Me Study.

Rodrigo San-Cristóbal ,Santiago Navas-Carretero,Mike Gibney,Carlos Celis-Morales,Ben Van Ommen,Lorraine Brennan,Hannelore Daniel,Jildau Bouwman,George Moschonis,Keith Grimaldi,Rosalind Fallaize,John C Mathers ,Christina P Lambrinou ,Eileen R Gibney ,Yannis Μanios ,Thomas E Gundersen ,Christian A Drevon ,Cyril F M Marsaux ,Wim H M Saris ,C.b O'donovan ,Laurence D Parnell ,Katherine M Livingstone ,M Jarosz ,Anna L Macready ,Julie A Lovegrove ,J Alfredo Martínéz

doi:10.3390/nu9101107

Abstract

Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) adherence has been proven to produce numerous health benefits. In addition, nutrigenetic studies have explained some individual variations in the response to specific dietary patterns. The present research aimed to explore associations and potential interactions between MedDiet adherence and genetic background throughout the Food4Me web-based nutritional intervention. Dietary, anthropometrical and biochemical data from volunteers of the Food4Me study were collected at baseline and after 6 months. Several genetic variants related to metabolic risk features were also analysed. A Genetic Risk Score (GRS) was derived from risk alleles and a Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS), based on validated food intake data, was estimated. At baseline, there were no interactions between GRS and MDS categories for metabolic traits. Linear mixed model repeated measures analyses showed a significantly greater decrease in total cholesterol in participants with a low GRS after a 6-month period, compared to those with a high GRS. Meanwhile, a high baseline MDS was associated with greater decreases in Body Mass Index (BMI), waist circumference and glucose. There also was a significant interaction between GRS and the MedDiet after the follow-up period. Among subjects with a high GRS, those with a high MDS evidenced a highly significant reduction in total carotenoids, while among those with a low GRS, there was no difference associated with MDS levels. These results suggest that a higher MedDiet adherence induces beneficial effects on metabolic outcomes, which can be affected by the genetic background in some specific markers.

Highlights

An excessive Body Mass Index (BMI) is a well-established risk factor for metabolic diseases [1], including diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, and for other age-related diseases, including cancers and dementia [2,3,4,5]
When the participants were categorised for baseline MDS, those with higher MDS values had significantly lower mean BMIs, waist circumference (WC) and total cholesterol, as well as greater physical activity, total carotenoid concentrations and Omega3 indices
The analysis of the interactions between Genetic Risk Score (GRS) and MDS levels showed no significant interactions at baseline for BMI (p = 0.405), waist circumference (p = 0.973), physical activity factor (p = 0.470), energy intake (p = 0.412), glucose (p = 0.424), total cholesterol (p = 0.691), total carotenoids (p = 0.162)

Summary

Introduction

An excessive Body Mass Index (BMI) is a well-established risk factor for metabolic diseases [1], including diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, and for other age-related diseases, including cancers and dementia [2,3,4,5]. The investigation of dietary patterns, in relation to adiposity of a given population, may help to define nutritional factors affecting body fat deposition [7,8]. Both prospective and retrospective approaches concerning dietary pattern analysis have been used in different epidemiological studies [9,10]. In this context, the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) is one of the most investigated dietary patterns, characterised by frequent consumption of vegetables and reduced amounts of animal products [11].

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion