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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #283869
Title: Association between BDNF-rs6265 and obesity in the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study

Author
item MA, XIAN-YONG - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item QIU, WEL QIAO - Boston University
item SMITH, CAREN E. - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item Parnell, Laurence
item JIANG, ZONG-YONG - Guangdong Academy Of Agricultural Sciences
item ORDOVAS, JOSE M. - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item TUCKER, KATHERINE L. - Northeastern University
item Lai, Chao Qiang

Submitted to: Journal of Obesity
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/27/2012
Publication Date: 12/31/2012
Citation: Ma, X., Qiu, W., Smith, C., Parnell, L.D., Jiang, Z., Ordovas, J., Tucker, K., Lai, C. 2012. Association between BDNF-rs6265 and obesity in the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study. Journal of Obesity. DOI: 10.1155/2012102942.

Interpretive Summary: Obesity is one of the fastest-growing health burdens in the United States. Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been reported to be associated with regulation of body weight and appetite. In some instances, BDNF (rs6265) was associated with eating disorders and obesity in several populations. However, whether BDNF variants interact with environmental factors affecting obesity traits is still unknown. Our aim in this study is to investigate the association between the functional BDNF-variant and obesity traits and potential interactions with dietary intake influencing obesity traits. Boston Puerto Rican Health Study population has a high rate of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. We showed for the first time that BDNF rs6265 is associated with obesity in gender-specific manner, and interacted with diet significantly influenced obesity traits of Boston Puerto Ricans. Men and women with the same BDNF rs6265 genotype exhibited different obesity risk to dietary PUFA and sugar intake. Together, this study implied that obesity risk associated with the BDNF variant may be decreased through diet modification.

Technical Abstract: The objective of this study is to examine a functional variant (rs6265) in the BDNF gene interacting with dietary intake modulate obesity traits in the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study population. BDNF rs6265 was genotyped in 1147 Puerto Ricans (aged 45-75 years), and examined for association with obesity-related traits. The results showed that men with GG genotype had higher BMI, waist, hip and weight than GA and AA carriers, respectively. On the other hand, women with GG genotype had significantly lower BMI, hip and weight than GA or AA carriers, respectively. Men with GG genotype had a two-fold risk of being overweight than GA or AA carriers, whereas women with GG genotype had a one fold reduction in the risk of being overweight compared to GA or AA carriers. Furthermore, BDNF rs6265 interacted with PUFA intake modulating BMI, hip and weight, and with total sugar intake modulating waist circumference in men. In summarize, our study reported for the first time that BDNF rs6265 is associated with obesity risk in gender-specific manner, and interacted with diet significantly influenced obesity traits of Boston Puerto Ricans. Men and women with the same BDNF rs6265 genotype exhibited different obesity risk to the same dietary PUFA and sugar intake.