Evidence of a strong dose effect on gene-nutrient interaction

Although it is known that diet is an important factor influencing HDL-C concentrations and HDL subclasses, previous studies have not assessed potential gene-diet interaction between the -514C/T polymorphism and dietary fat. This study investigated how dietary fat intake, focusing on specific fatty acids and fat sources, interacts with the LIPC polymorphism to determine both HDL-C concentrations and particle size. The interaction effects between the -514(C/T) LIPC polymorphism, dietary fat, and HDL-related measures were assessed in 1020 men and 1110 women who participated in the Framington Study. The authors found "a consistent and highly significant gene-nutrient interaction showing a strong dose-response effect. Thus, the T allele was associated with significantly greater HDL-C concentrations only in subjects consuming 1The researchers also noted that when total fat intake was ≥30% of energy, mean HDL-C concentrations were lowest among subjects with the TT genotype, and no differences were observed between CC and CT individuals.1Similar gene-nutrient interactions were reported when the outcome variables were HDL2-C (P1In summary ""this highly significant gene-nutrient interaction may help to explain conflicting results with regard to HL activity, the antiatherogenic lipid profile and CAD risk, as well as the intra-individual differences in the plasma lipid response to the dietary fat. Most interesting is the fact that the observed effects are exclusively found for animal fat but not so for vegetable fat. This point requires further investigation with well-controlled experimental studies."1Reference...