Appetite regulation has been recognized as a promising target for the prevention of obesity, which has become a worldwide health issue. Polymorphisms in the genes of hormones or receptors including Leu72Met for ghrelin and Gln223Arg for the leptin receptor could play a role in dietary intake, hunger, and satiety process. The aim of this study was to analyze subjective appetite assessments, dietary intake, and appetite hormones in relationship to these polymorphisms. Subjects (n = 132) with normal BMIs were enrolled. Dietary intake was analyzed with 3-day diet records. Subjective appetite was measured by visual analogue scales. Biochemical parameters were measured after 12 h of fasting and 120′ following ingestion of a test meal. Ghrelin and leptin levels were measured by ELISA assay (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and insulin by chemiluminescence assay. The polymorphisms were determined by allelic discrimination using TaqMan® probes. Fasting ghrelin levels differed significantly between men and women. The consumption of fruit and bread/starch with added sugar servings, as indicated by dietary records, and measured ghrelin levels were higher in carriers of Leu72Met/Met72Met compared to Leu72Leu carriers; total sugar intake was higher in Gln223Gln carriers than in Gln223Arg/Arg223Arg carriers. In conclusion, the Leu72Met and Gln223Arg polymorphism in ghrelin and LEPR may contribute to differential responses to a standardized meal as evidenced by higher postprandial levels of ghrelin and may also contribute to a higher dietary sugar intake.

Objectives To determine the association of Leu72Met single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of GHRL gene and Gln223Arg SNP of LEPR gene with hunger, satiety, biochemical, and anthropometric variables in adults from Western Mexico. Methods Quasi-experimental study design with 132 participants of which 109 were women. Inclusion criteria were age 18–25 years old, BMI 18.5–24.9 kg/m2, 10 hours of fasting, and have the habit of eating breakfast. Exclusion criteria were subjects with a diagnosed disease, vegetarians or vegans, use of drugs that alter appetite or for weight loss, food allergies, elite athletes. Subjects were summoned twice. In the first one, medical history and anthropometric measurements were realized. A week later vital signs were taken, and blood sampling was obtained in fasting and at 120′ post breakfast. Anthropometrics and biochemical measurements were done with the InBody 370 and Vitros 350 analyzer, respectively. SNP´s were analyzed using the TaqMan® allelic discrimination assay in a real-time PCR thermocycler. Five visual analog scales to assess hunger, fullness, satiety, desire to eat, and prospective consumption were applied in fasting, after breakfast, and at 30′, 60′, 90′, and 120′ post-ingestion. Breakfast had an energy content of 526.5 kcal (36% lipids, 43% carbohydrates, and 21% protein). All variables were analyzed among genotypes considering the dominant model. Data were analyzed in SPSS version 20.0. Normality distribution was assessed with the Shapiro-Wilk test. Student T-test was applied for related (intra) or independent (inter) groups, respectively. Results BMI of participants was 22.0 ± 2.0 kg/m2 with a mean age of 20.6 ± 2.0 years. At 60′ post-ingestion hunger was lower and at 120′ glucose levels were lower in Leu72Leu carriers than in Leu72Met/Met72Met carriers. In fasting, total cholesterol, LDL-c, triglycerides, and desire to eat were higher in subjects with Gln223Gln genotype than in Gln223Arg/Arg223Arg genotype carriers. Conclusions The GHRL SNP was associated with higher hunger and glucose in the postprandial state; contrary, the LEPR SNP was associated with lower lipids levels and less desire to eat in fasting. Genetic variants could be involved with hunger, satiety, and metabolism biomarkers. Funding Sources "PROINPEP” and “PRO-SNI” from University of Guadalajara.