Melanocortin-4 Receptor Gene Variation Is Associated with Eating Behavior in Chilean Adults

Abstract

Background/Aims: To evaluate the association between allelic variants of melanocortin receptors -3 and -4 (MC3R and MC4R, respectively) and leptin receptor (LEPR) genes with body mass index (BMI) and eating behavior. Methods: We selected 344 Chilean adults (57.8% women; age 39.1 ± 6.6 years) with a wide variation in BMI (30.3 ± 6.3 kg/m²). The Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-R18 that measures uncontrolled eating (UE), emotional eating (EE) and cognitive restraint scores was adapted, validated and assessed for association with BMI. Genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques and Taqman assays. Results: Higher EE scores were found in obese vs. non-obese in both men (p = 0.01) and women (p < 0.001). UE scores were significantly associated with BMI only in women (p = 0.002). No significant differences in eating behavior scores or BMI were found by LEPR (rs1137101, rs8179183 and rs1137100 polymorphisms) or MC3R (rs3746619 and rs3827103). Carriers of the C allele for MC4R rs17782313 showed significantly higher scores of UE compared to non-carriers (2.3 ± 0.8 vs. 2.0 ± 0.7; p = 0.02). Additionally, we also report a monogenic case of obesity carrying the pathogenic mutation 449C>T (Thr150Ile) in MC4R gene with no apparent alterations in eating behavior scores. Conclusions: UE scores were higher in C-allele carriers of MC4R-rs17782313 compared to non-carriers.

MC4R variant rs17782313 and manifestation of obese phenotype in Pakistani females

“…79 In contrast, many studies have reported association of this variant with disordered eating, and dietary fat and high energy intakes. 53,61,80 However, association of MC4R rs17782313 with random eating timings was observed in the current study but we could not nd any parallel study in literature that investigated the association of this variant with random eating timings like ours. We did not nd any association of MC4R rs17782313 with PA levels, depression, sleep-wake timings, and sleep duration in our study population.…”

Rs12970134 near MC4R is associated with appetite and beverage intake in overweight and obese children: A family-based association study in Chinese population

“…Besides, there was a marginal association of 17782313 with food responsiveness subscale ( P = 0.09). Vega, et al reported that rs17782313 was associated with higher scores of uncontrolled eating in Chilean adults [47]. Obregón AM, et al reported that rs17782313 was associated with food responsiveness ( P = 0.02) [48].…”

Taste receptors are our mediators in shaping the taste preferences of a child

“…Vega J.A. и коллеги сообщили, что данный полиморфизм rs17782313 был связан с более высокими показателями неконтролируемого потребления пищи среди чилийских взрослых [53].…”