הפרסומים המדעיים שלי
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene rs925946 associates with Israeli females' obesity predisposition: an interaction between genetics, eating habits, and physical inactivity
by Danyel Chermon and Ruth Birk
Nutrition Department, Health Science Faculty, Ariel University, Israel
Published: 23 February 2024
The global obesity pandemic presents a pressing health challenge, with an increasing prevalence shaped by an intricate interplay of genetics and environment. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a pivotal role in regulating feeding behavior and energy expenditure. BDNF single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been linked to obesity risk. We hypothesized that BDNF rs925946 is positively associated with obesity susceptibility in the Israeli population. We aimed to study BDNF rs925946 association with obesity susceptibility and its interaction with environmental factors, including eating habits, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), and physical activity (PA). A data cohort of 4668 Israeli adults (≥18 years, Jewish) was analyzed. Participants' genotypic data for the BDNF rs925946 and lifestyle and eating behavior questionnaire data were analyzed for the association between obesity predisposition and gene-environment interactions. Female (n=3259) BDNF rs925946 T allele carriers had an elevated obesity odd [odds ratio (OR)= 1.2 (95%CI 1.03-1.4, p=0.02)]. BDNF rs925946 genotype interacted significantly with physical inactivity, SSBs consumption, and eating habits score (EHS) to enhance obesity odds (OR= 1.4, 95%CI 1.14-1.7, OR= 1.54, 95%CI 1.1-2.15 and OR= 1.4, 95%CI 1.2-2.11, respectively). Our data demonstrated a significant association between BDNF rs925946 T allele female carriers and a higher obesity predisposition, affected by modifiable lifestyle factors.
Predisposition of the Common MC4R rs17782313 Female Carriers to Elevated Obesity and Interaction with Eating Habits
by Danyel Chermon and Ruth Birk
Nutrition Department, Health Science Faculty, Ariel University, Israel
Published: 25 October 2023
The global rise in obesity is attributed to genetic predisposition interaction with an obesogenic environment. Melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) rs17782313 polymorphism has been linked to common obesity with varying influence across different populations. MC4R is a crucial player in the leptin proopiomelanocortin pathway that regulates weight hemostasis. We aimed to study MC4R rs17782313 and its interaction with eating behaviors on obesity predisposition in the Israeli population. Adults' (n = 5785, >18 y) genotype and anthropometric and demographic data were analyzed using logistic regression models adjusting for age, sex, T1DM, and T2DM. MC4R rs17782313 significantly predisposes to elevated obesity risk under the recessive and additive models (OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.1-1.72, p = 0.005 and OR = 1.1, 95% CI: 1.01-1.2, p = 0.03, respectively) adjusted for confounders (age, sex, T1DM, and T2DM). Stratification by sex demonstrated that carrying the common MC4R rs17782313 is significantly associated with an elevated predisposition to obesity under the recessive model among females only (OR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.09-1.82, p = 0.01), with an average of 0.85 BMI increment compared with wild type and one risk allele carriers. MC4R rs17782313 significantly interacted with several eating behaviors to enhance the risk of obesity. Our findings demonstrate that MC4R rs17782313 homozygous female carriers are significantly predisposed to obesity amplified by eating behaviors.
Drinking Habits and Physical Activity Interact and Attenuate Obesity Predisposition of TMEM18 Polymorphisms Carriers
by Danyel Chermon and Ruth Birk
Nutrition Department, Health Science Faculty, Ariel University, Israel
Published: 4 January 2023
The transmembrane protein 18 (TMEM18) gene plays a central and peripheral role in weight regulation. TMEM18 genetic polymorphisms have been identified as an important risk factor for obesity, depending on ethnic population and age. This research aimed to study the association of common TMEM18 polymorphisms with obesity and their interactions with modifiable factors, namely drinking habits (sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), flavored water and wine) and physical activity (PA) in the Israeli population. Adults (n = 3089) were analyzed for common TMEM18 polymorphisms and lifestyle and nutrition habits were obtained from questionnaires using adjusted (age, sex) binary logistic regression models. TMEM18 rs939583 and rs1879523 were significantly associated with increased obesity risk (OR = 1.35, 95% CI (1.17–1.57) and OR = 1.66, 95% CI (1.29–2.15), respectively). TMEM18 rs939583 interacted with consumption of 1–3 weekly glasses of wine and PA to attenuate obesity risk (OR = 0.82 95% CI (0.74–0.9; p < 0.001) and OR = 0.74 95% CI (0.68–0.8), respectively), while physical inactivity, SSBs and flavored water consumption significantly enhanced obesity risk (OR = 1.54 95% CI (1.41–1.67), OR = 1.31 95% CI (1.14–1.51) and OR = 1.35 95% CI (1.13–1.62), respectively). PA duration was significantly associated with a lower BMI for rs939583 risk carriers, with a PA cutoff of >30 min/week (p = 0.005) and >90 min/week (p = 0.01). Common TMEM18 SNPs were significantly linked with adult obesity risk and interacted with modifiable lifestyle factors.
FTO Common Obesity SNPs Interact with Actionable Environmental Factors: Physical Activity, Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Wine Consumption
by Danyel Chermon and Ruth Birk
Nutrition Department, Health Science Faculty, Ariel University, Israel
Published: 9 October 2022
Genetic background is estimated to play >50% in common obesity etiology. FTO single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are strongly associated with BMI, typically in European cohorts. We investigated the interaction of common FTO SNPs with actionable environmental factors, namely physical activity, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and wine consumption, and verified FTO common SNPs predisposition to obesity in the Israeli population. Adults’ (>18 years old, n = 1720) FTO common SNPs data and lifestyle and nutrition habits questionnaires were analyzed using binary logistic regression models, adjusted for confounding variables (age, sex) assuming dominant, recessive and additive genetic models. Eighteen FTO SNPs were associated with significant increased obesity risk and interacted with physical activity (p < 0.001), wine consumption (p < 0.014) and SSB consumption (p < 0.01). Inactive rs9939609 risk-allele carriers had significantly higher obesity risk compared to their active counterparts (OR = 2.54, 95% CI 1.91–3.39 and OR = 3.77, 95% CI 2.47–5.75; p < 0.001 with 3.1 and 3.5 BMI increment for heterozygotes and homozygotes, respectively). SSB consumption (≥1 serving/day) significantly raised obesity risk and wine consumption (1–3 drinks/weekly) significantly lowered obesity risk for rs9939609 risk-allele carriers (OR = 1.54, 95% CI 1.05–2.27; p = 0.028 and OR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.47–0.79; p < 0.001, respectively). Our findings demonstrate that actionable lifestyle factors modify the common FTO obesity risk in predisposed carriers, and they have personal and public health implications.