Association between the APOA2 promoter polymorphism and body weight in Mediterranean and Asian populations: replication of a gene-saturated fat interaction.
OBJECTIVE
The APOA2 gene has been associated with obesity and insulin resistance (IR) in animal and human studies with controversial results. We have reported an APOA2-saturated fat interaction determining body mass index (BMI) and obesity in American populations. This work aims to extend our findings to European and Asian populations.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study in 4602 subjects from two independent populations: a high-cardiovascular risk Mediterranean population (n = 907 men and women; aged 67 ± 6 years) and a multiethnic Asian population (n = 2506 Chinese, n = 605 Malays and n = 494 Asian Indians; aged 39 ± 12 years) participating in a Singapore National Health Survey. Anthropometric, clinical, biochemical, lifestyle and dietary variables were determined. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance was used in Asians. We analyzed gene-diet interactions between the APOA2 -265T>C polymorphism and saturated fat intake (<or ≥ 22 g per day) on anthropometric measures and IR.


RESULTS
Frequency of CC (homozygous for the minor allele) subjects differed among populations (1-15%). We confirmed a recessive effect of the APOA2 polymorphism and replicated the APOA2-saturated fat interaction on body weight. In Mediterranean individuals, the CC genotype was associated with a 6.8% greater BMI in those consuming a high (P = 0.018), but not a low (P = 0.316) saturated fat diet. Likewise, the CC genotype was significantly associated with higher obesity prevalence in Chinese and Asian Indians only, with a high-saturated fat intake (P = 0.036). We also found a significant APOA2-saturated fat interaction in determining IR in Chinese and Asian Indians (P = 0.026).


CONCLUSIONS
The influence of the APOA2 -265T>C polymorphism on body-weight-related measures was modulated by saturated fat in Mediterranean and Asian populations.
Nutrition and Genomics Laboratory, JM-USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111-1524, USA.
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D
Corella
E S
ES
Tai
J V
JV
Sorlí
S K
SK
Chew
O
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Coltell
M
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Sotos-Prieto
A
A
García-Rios
R
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Estruch
J M
JM
Ordovas
D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D016633:Apolipoprotein A-II / Q000235:genetics*; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*
C115794:APOA2 protein, human; D016633:Apolipoprotein A-II; D004041:Dietary Fats