title: The effect of CYP19 and COMT polymorphisms on exercise-induced fat loss in postmenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether genetic polymorphisms in CYP19 [intron 4 (TTTA)n; n = 7 to 13 and a 3-base pair deletion, which is in strong linkage disequilibrium with the seven repeat] and COMT (Val108/158Met) modified the change in BMI, total and percentage body fat, or subcutaneous and intra-abdominal fat during a year-long exercise intervention trial. These genes metabolize estrogens and androgens, which are important in body fat regulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized intervention trial was used, with an intervention goal of 225 min/wk of moderate-intensity exercise for one year. Participants (n = 173) were postmenopausal, 50 to 75 years old, sedentary, overweight or obese, and not taking hormone therapy at baseline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exercisers with two vs. no CYP19 11-repeat alleles had a larger decrease in total fat (-3.1 kg vs. -0.5 kg, respectively, p = 0.01) and percentage body fat (-2.4% vs. -0.6%, respectively, p = 0.001). Exercisers with the COMT Met/Met vs. Val/Val genotype had a smaller decrease in percentage fat (-0.7% vs. -1.9%, respectively, p = 0.05). Among exercisers, women with the COMT Val/Val genotype and at least one copy of the CYP19 11-repeat allele vs. those with neither genotype/allele had a significantly larger decrease in BMI (-1.0 vs. +0.1 kg/m2, respectively, p = 0.009), total fat (-2.9 vs. -0.5 kg, respectively, p = 0.004), and percentage body fat (-2.6% vs. -0.4%, respectively, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Genetic polymorphisms in CYP19 and COMT may be important for body fat regulation and possibly modify the effect of exercise on fat loss in postmenopausal women.
authors.affiliation: Channing Laboratory, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. amctiern@fhcrc.org
authors.forename: Shelley S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Tworoger
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chubak
authors.forename: Erin J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Aiello
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yasui
authors.forename: Cornelia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ulrich
authors.forename: Federico M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Farin
authors.forename: Patricia L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Stapleton
authors.forename: Melinda L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Irwin
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Potter
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McTiernan
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D001141:Aromatase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001823:Body Composition; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000502:physiology; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000378:metabolism*; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004247:DNA; D001141:Aromatase; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase