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

Abstract

Aim: There is increasing demand for individualized health advice. The aim of this study was to assess the effects on cardiovascular risk markers of receiving personal genetic health information, using apoE genotypes as a tool for promoting lifestyle changes. ApoE was chosen because it had a significant impact on lipid metabolism and cholesterol absorption, all factors for CVD. Methods: This study was a one-year explanatory intervention study for healthy adults, aged between 20 -67 years old (n = 106). Their clinical markers (serum lipids, blood glucose, blood pressure, Body Mass Index, body fat percentage and waist circumference) were measured three times during the intervention. The clinical effects were assessed for three groups: a high risk group (Ɛ4+, n = 16); a low-risk group (Ɛ4−, n = 35); and a control group (n = 55). Results: The triglyceride values and waist circumference lowered more in Ɛ4+ compared with the control group (p < 0.05; alpha value 0.005) during the intervention. Conclusion: The personal genetic information, based on apoE, may have positive effects on cardiovascular risk markers (e.g., improvement in triglyceride values). The individual health information, based on genotyping could be a potential option in the prevention of CVD. More research is required on how to utilize genotype-based health information in the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases.

The effect of the apolipoprotein E genotype on response to personalized dietary advice intervention: findings from the Food4Me randomized controlled trial

“…Strengths of this study include using the internet to assess and deliver dietary advice, 359 prospective genotyping, a larger sample size than reported previously (39, 44,46), 360 the measurement of actual dietary change, as distinct from intention to change, and 361 the availability of relevant blood-based biomarkers of fat status (obtained from 362 unsupervised sampling). As such, the Food4Me study provides robust evidence of 363 the impact of knowledge of APOE risk on adherence to dietary advice.…”

Using Individual, ApoE Genotype-Based Dietary and Physical Activity Advice to Promote a Healthy Lifestyle: Associations between Psychological, Behavioral and Clinical Factors

“…This study examined the associations between psychological, behavioral and clinical changes in the context of genetic feedback. This paper concentrates on the four statistically clearest changes (p < 0.05), which have been presented in our previous papers [12][13][14]. These are: the effect of ApoE genotype-based health information on changes in a threat experience (T0-T1), dietary fat quality (T0-T1), triglycerides (T0-T2) and waist circumference (T0-T2).…”

“…The baseline and follow-up assessments included detailed measurements of psychological (threat and anxiety experience, stage of change), [12] behavioral (dietary fat quality, consumption of vegetables, -high fat/sugar foods and -alcohol, physical activity and health and taste attitudes) [13] and clinical factors [14]. Measures were taken at the baseline (T0), after genetic feedback (T1), after six months (T2) and after 12 months (T3).…”

“…The explained changes were the cardiovascular threat experience (T0-T1) based on the Risk Behavior Diagnostic Scale (RBD) [5], the dietary fat quality (T0-T1) based on a questionnaire from the Finnish Heart Association [15], triglyceride values (T0-T2) [14] and waist circumference (T0-T2) [14].…”

“…In addition, the explained changes (threat experience, dietary fat quality, triglycerides and waist circumference) were included as predictors, when explaining the other changes that were statistically clearest. Psychological, behavioral, and clinical assessments are described in more detail in our previous articles [12][13][14].…”