Lactase persistence and milk consumption are associated with body height in Swedish preadolescents and adolescents

Abstract

BackgroundBody height is a classic polygenic trait. About 80%–90% of height is inherited and 10%–20% owed to environmental factors, of which the most important ones are nutrition and diseases in preadolescents and adolescents.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to explore potential relations between the LCT (lactase) C>T-13910 polymorphism, milk consumption, and body height in a sample of Swedish preadolescents and adolescents.DesignIn a cross-sectional study, using a random sample of preadolescents and adolescents (n = 597), dietary intakes were determined. Anthropometric measurements including sexual maturity (Tanner stage) and birth weight were assessed. Parental body height and socio-economic status (SES) were obtained by questionnaires. Genotyping for the LCT C>T-13910 polymorphism that renders individuals lactase persistent (LP) or lactase non-persistent (LNP) was performed by DNA sequencing. Stepwise backward multivariate linear regression was used.ResultsMilk consumption was significantly and positively associated with body height (β = 0.45; 95% CI: 0.040, 0.87, p = 0.032). Adjustments were performed for sex, parental height, birth weight, body mass index (BMI), SES, and Tanner stage. This model explains 90% of the observed variance of body height (adjusted R2 = 0.89). The presence of the -13910 T allele was positively associated with body height (β = 2.05; 95% CI: 0.18, 3.92, p = 0.032).ConclusionsMilk consumption is positively associated with body height in preadolescents and adolescents. We show for the first time that a nutrigenetic variant might be able to explain in part phenotypic variation of body height in preadolescents and adolescents. Due to the small sample size further studies are needed.

Association of lactase persistence genotype with milk consumption, obesity and blood pressure: a Mendelian randomization study in the 1982 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort, with a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…After accessing the full texts, 16 records were included 13 , 19 , 30 , 36 , 37 , 45–53 . One additional record 16 was identified in the reference lists of the included records, totalling 17 records (Supplementary Figure 2, available as Supplementary data at IJE online).…”

Milk intake is not associated with low risk of diabetes or overweight-obesity: a Mendelian randomization study in 97,811 Danish individuals

“…The highest milk intake was in Finland and Sweden, where the difference in milk intake between lactase TT/TC-persistent individuals and lactase CC-nonpersistent individuals was largest. Also, there seems to be a similar gradient in milk intake because individuals from northern Europe (22,23) report higher milk intakes than do individuals from southern Europe (25), and milk intake in northern Europe seems to be consistently higher in lactase-persistent individuals than in lactase-nonpersistent individuals. There is a north-south gradient of lactase persistence in Europe, with prevalences ranging from 80% in northern Europe to 5-10% in southern Europe (26,27).…”

Relation of the C/T-13910 LCT Polymorphism with Body Composition Measures and Their Modulation by Dairy Products in a Caucasian Men

“…Some studies have confirmed a positive association between the LP allele and BMI (Almon et al, 2011;Corella et al, 2011;Kettunen et al, 2010). It can be explained by differences between LNP and LP, in terms of gut microbiota which may influence the caloric extraction of ingested food (Armougom et al, 2009;Suchy et al, 2010) or hormonal/peptide/fatty-acid constituents in milk having biological effects on consumers, which may potentially exert an effect on body composition (Adebamowo et al, 2008;Berkey et al, 2005).…”

“…To date, the research has been based on small research groups ( Khabarova et al, 2009 ; Madry et al, 2010 ), mainly among children and teenagers ( Almon et al, 2011 ; Madry et al, 2010 ), elderly people ( Corella et al, 2011 ; Smith et al, 2009 ), or the sick ( Travis et al, 2013 ). There is a lack of population-based research concerning healthy middle-aged people of both sexes, using exact anthropometric measurements estimating the amount of adipose tissue and non-fat mass.…”