Scientists ID gene-diet obesity linkage

BOSTON, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they've identified a gene-diet interaction that appears to influence body weight.

Tufts University scientists said they discovered men and women carrying the CC genotype demonstrated higher body mass index scores and a higher incidence of obesity, but only if they consumed a diet high in saturated fat.

The researchers, who said they replicated their findings in three independent studies, said the associations were seen in the APOA2 gene promoter.

"We believe this is the first time a gene-diet interaction influencing BMI and obesity has been replicated in as many as three independent study populations," said senior author Jose Ordovas, director of the Nutrition and Genomics Laboratory at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, located at Tufts. "Our findings strengthen support for the science of nutrigenomics and are another step toward the goal of individually tailoring dietary recommendations to lower risk of chronic disease or conditions like obesity."

The study appears in the Nov. 9 issue of the journal Archives of Internal Medicine.