An Intervention Study of Individual, apoE Genotype-Based Dietary and Physical-Activity Advice: Impact on Health Behavior

Abstract

Aim: To assess the behavioral effects of receiving personal genetic information, using apoE genotypes as a tool for promoting lifestyle changes. apoE was chosen because it has a significant impact on lipid metabolism and cholesterol absorption, both factors in cardiovascular disease. Methods: This study was a 1-year intervention study of healthy adults aged 20-67 years (n = 107). Their behavioral changes were measured by diet (e.g., fat quality, as well as consumption of vegetables, berries, fruits, and fatty and sugary foods), alcohol consumption, and exercise. Health and taste attitudes were assessed with the Health and Taste Attitude Scales (HTAS). The measurements were performed 4 times: at baseline (T0), as well as 10 weeks (T1), 6 months (T2), and 12 months after baseline (T3). These behavioral effects were assessed for three groups: a high-risk (Ɛ4+; n = 16), a low-risk (Ɛ4-; n = 35), and a control group (n = 56). Results: Personal genetic information affected health behavior. Dietary fat quality improved more in the Ɛ4+ group than in the Ɛ4- and control groups after personal, genotype-based health advice. This change differed significantly between the Ɛ4+ and the control group (p < 0.05), but only for a short time. Conclusion: Personal genetic information, based on apoE, may affect dietary fat quality. More research is required to determine how to utilize genotype-based health information and how to efficiently achieve long-term changes in the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases.

Knowing your genes: does this impact behaviour change?

“…It is interesting to note the differences in the duration of follow-up within these studies, as the effect of genotype-based personalised advice was observed at 12 months in studies conducted by Arkadianos et al (29) and Nielsen & El-Sohemy (32) , but not reported in those studies of shorter duration (30) . However, Hietaranta-Luoma et al reported positive changes early on in the intervention, but these was no longer evident at 12 months (31) . At present, the evidence for the benefit of genotype-based PN is not strong, and more studies are warranted before any clear conclusions can be deduced on personalised advice based on genotype and motivating behaviour change.…”

“…At 12 months, those with the risk version of ACE gene had significantly lower intakes of sodium compared with the control group (P = 0·008) Hietaranta-Luoma et al (31) Healthy adults aged 20-67 years (n 107)…”

“…Participants were randomised to either the control group who received general information or intervention group who were tested for the APOE genotype and given a tailored health message related to their APOE genotype, its effect on CVD risk and importance of dietary and lifestyle changes based on the extended parallel process model (31) . Dietary changes were assessed at baseline, 10 weeks, 6 months and 12 months.…”

“…Participants were randomly assigned to either a nutrigenetic-guided diet or a standard balanced diet No significant difference in the percentage of participants on the balanced diet compared with the nutrigenetic-guided diet who lost 5 % of their body weight at 8 weeks or at 24 weeks Impact of genetic knowledge on behaviourat 12 months (31) . Nielsen et al also reported changes in sodium intake following disclosure of the ACE genotype (32) .…”

Using Individual, ApoE Genotype-Based Dietary and Physical Activity Advice to Promote Healthy Lifestyles in Finland—Impacts on Cardiovascular Risk Markers

“…In our previous papers, we have reported psychological [26] and behavioral [27] effects. In the current paper, we focus on the effect of the specific risk factors of CVD.…”