ARS | Publication request: Perilipin polymorphism interacts with dietary carbohydrates to modulate anthropometric traits in Hispanics of Caribbean origin

Submitted to: Journal of Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: July 23, 2008
Publication Date: October 1, 2008
Citation: Smith, C., Tucker, K., Yiannakouris, N., Garcia-Bailo, B., Mattei, J., Lai, C., Parnell, L.D., Ordovas, J.M. 2008. Perilipin Polymorphism Interacts with Dietary Carbohydrates to Modulate Anthropometric Traits in Hispanics of Caribbean Origin. Journal of Nutrition. 138(10):1852-1858.

Interpretive Summary: Perilipin (PLIN) is the major protein surrounding lipid (fat) droplets in fat cells and regulates fat cell metabolism by modulating the interaction between enzymes which break down lipids and triglycerides. Although it is known that genetic variants of the PLIN gene associate with risk for obesity, how that relationship is modified by dietary components is unknown. We studied a population-based sample of Caribbean-origin Hispanics living in the Boston area and, using complex statistical analyses, found a significant impact of complex carbohydrate intake on the relationship between a PLIN variant and waist circumference. When complex carbohydrate intake was low, waist circumference was larger in subjects with the genetic variant. Conversely, when complex carbohydrate intake was high, waist and hip circumferences were less in subjects with the genetic variant. These interactions were not found for intake of simple sugars or total carbohydrates. In summary, subjects with both higher complex carbohydrate intake, and the genetic variant were protected against obesity, whereas subjects with lower carbohydrate intake and the genetic variant showed increased obesity. These interactions may be relevant to dietary management of obesity.

Technical Abstract: Perilipin (PLIN) is the major protein surrounding lipid droplets in adipocytes and regulates adipocyte metabolism by modulating the interaction between lipases and triacylglycerol stores. Associations between PLIN gene polymorphisms and obesity risk have been described, but interactions with dietary macronutrients require further attention. We examined whether dietary macronutrients (e.g. carbohydrates and fats) modulated the associations of the common PLIN 11482G > A (rs894160) single nucleotide polymorphism with obesity. We studied a population-based sample of Caribbean-origin Hispanics (n = 920, aged 45-74 y) living in the Boston area. Obesity measures (waist and hip circumference, BMI) did not differ between GG subjects and carriers of the A allele (GA and AA). In multivariate linear regression models, we found a significant interaction between complex carbohydrate intake as a continuous variable and PLIN 11482 G > A genotype for waist circumference (P = 0.002). By dichotomizing complex carbohydrate intake, we found significantly different effects across PLIN 11482G > A genotypes. When complex carbohydrate intake was <144 g/d, waist circumference was larger in PLIN 11482G > A carriers (P = 0.024). Conversely, when complex carbohydrate intake was >/=144 g/d, waist and hip circumferences were less in PLIN 11482G > A carriers (P < 0.05). These interactions were not found for simple sugars or total carbohydrates. We identified a significant gene-diet interaction associated with obesity at the PLIN locus. In subjects with higher complex carbohydrate intake, the minor allele was protective against obesity, whereas in subjects with lower carbohydrate intake, the minor allele was associated with increased obesity. These interactions may be relevant to dietary management of obesity.