Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Genetic Background Roles within a Web-Based Nutritional Intervention: The Food4Me Study

Rodrigo San-Cristobal, Santiago Navas-Carretero, Katherine M. Livingstone, Carlos Celis-Morales, Anna L. Macready, Rosalind Fallaize, Clare B. O'Donovan, Christina P. Lambrinou, George Moschonis, Cyril F. M. Marsaux, Yannis Manios, Miroslaw Jarosz, Hannelore Daniel, Eileen R. Gibney, Lorraine Brennan, Christian A. Drevon, Thomas E. Gundersen, Mike Gibney, Wim H. M. Saris, Julie A. LovegroveKeith Grimaldi, Laurence D. Parnell, Jildau Bouwman, Ben Van Ommen, John C. Mathers, J. Alfredo Martinez*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) adherence has been proven to produce numerous health benefits. In addition, nutrigenetic studies have explained some individual variations in the response to specific dietary patterns. The present research aimed to explore associations and potential interactions between MedDiet adherence and genetic background throughout the Food4Me web-based nutritional intervention. Dietary, anthropometrical and biochemical data from volunteers of the Food4Me study were collected at baseline and after 6 months. Several genetic variants related to metabolic risk features were also analysed. A Genetic Risk Score (GRS) was derived from risk alleles and a Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS), based on validated food intake data, was estimated. At baseline, there were no interactions between GRS and MDS categories for metabolic traits. Linear mixed model repeated measures analyses showed a significantly greater decrease in total cholesterol in participants with a low GRS after a 6-month period, compared to those with a high GRS. Meanwhile, a high baseline MDS was associated with greater decreases in Body Mass Index (BMI), waist circumference and glucose. There also was a significant interaction between GRS and the MedDiet after the follow-up period. Among subjects with a high GRS, those with a high MDS evidenced a highly significant reduction in total carotenoids, while among those with a low GRS, there was no difference associated with MDS levels. These results suggest that a higher MedDiet adherence induces beneficial effects on metabolic outcomes, which can be affected by the genetic background in some specific markers.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1107
Number of pages17
JournalNutrients
Volume9
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2017

Keywords

  • Food4Me study
  • Mediterranean diet
  • genetic risk
  • obesity
  • BODY-MASS INDEX
  • RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED-TRIAL
  • GENOME-WIDE ASSOCIATION
  • VIRGIN OLIVE OIL
  • CORONARY-HEART-DISEASE
  • WEIGHT-LOSS DIET
  • METABOLIC SYNDROME
  • PERSONALIZED NUTRITION
  • WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE
  • EUROPEAN ADULTS

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