Public Library of Science, PLoS ONE, 10(9), p. e110890, 2014
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0110890
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Background: Genetic predisposition to adiposity may interact with dietary protein in relation to changes of anthropometry. Objective: To investigate the interaction between genetic predisposition to higher body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) or waist-hip ratio adjusted for BMI (WHRBMI) and dietary protein in relation to subsequent change in body weight (DBW) or change in WC (DWC). Design: Three different Danish cohorts were used. In total 7,054 individuals constituted the study population with information on diet, 50 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with BMI, WC or WHRBMI, as well as potential confounders. Mean follow-up time was similar to 5 years. Four genetic predisposition-scores were based on the SNPs; a complete-score including all selected adiposity-associated SNPs, and three scores including BMI, WC or WHRBMI associated polymorphisms, respectively. The association between protein intake and Delta BW or Delta WC were examined and interactions between SNP-score and protein were investigated. Analyses were based on linear regressions using macronutrient substitution models and meta-analyses. Results: When protein replaced carbohydrate, meta-analyses showed no associations with Delta BW (41.0 gram/y/5 energy% protein, [95% CI: 232.3; 114.3]) or Delta WC (<-0.1 mm/y/5 energy % protein, [-1.1; 1.1]). Similarly, there were no interactions for any SNP-scores and protein for either Delta BW (complete SNP-score: 1.8 gram/y/5 energy% protein/risk allele, [-7.0; 10.6]) or Delta WC (complete SNP-score: <0.1 mm/y/5 energy% protein/risk allele, [-0.1; 0.1]). Similar results were seen when protein replaced fat. Conclusion: This study indicates that the genetic predisposition to general and abdominal adiposity, assessed by gene-scores, does not seem to modulate the influence of dietary protein on Delta BW or Delta WC.