A Mediterranean diet rich in virgin olive oil may reverse the effects of the -174G/C IL6 gene variant on 3-year body weight change

Mol Nutr Food Res. 2010 May:54 Suppl 1:S75-82. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.200900257.

Abstract

Only a few studies have analyzed the effects of the potential interaction between the -174G/C polymorphism of IL6 gene and the adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) on adiposity indexes. Our aim was to investigate the interplay between the -174G/C polymorphism of the IL6 gene and a Mediterranean-style diet on body weight changes after 3 years of nutritional intervention in a high cardiovascular risk population. A total of 737 participants, aged 55-80 years were assigned to a low-fat diet or to a Mediterranean-style diet group with high intake of virgin olive oil (VOO) or nuts. Anthropometric measurements were taken at baseline and after 3-year follow-up. The -174G/C polymorphism of the IL6 gene was genotyped. Minor allele frequency (C) was 0.39. At baseline, the CC genotype was associated with higher measures of adiposity. After 3 years, a significant interaction (p=0.028) was found between the polymorphism (GG+GC versus CC) and the nutritional intervention: CC subjects following the MD+VOO had the lowest body weight gain. In conclusion, at baseline, CC subjects for the -174G/C polymorphism of IL6 had the highest body weight and BMI. However, after 3 years of nutritional intervention with MD+VOO, these subjects were predicted to have the greatest reduction in body weight.

Publication types

  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Blood Pressure
  • Body Mass Index
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology
  • DNA / blood
  • DNA / genetics
  • DNA / isolation & purification
  • Diabetes Mellitus / genetics
  • Diet, Mediterranean*
  • Female
  • Genetic Variation*
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-6 / genetics*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nuts
  • Olive Oil
  • Plant Oils / pharmacology*
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Interleukin-6
  • Olive Oil
  • Plant Oils
  • DNA