Obesity-related parameters in carriers of some BDNF genetic variants may depend on daily dietary macronutrients intake

Abstract Some common single-nucleotide polymorphisms of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene have been associated not only with the neurodegenerative diseases but also with some eating disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the possible differences in the obesity-related and glucose metabolism parameters between some BDNF genotypes’, that may depend on the daily energy and macronutrients intake. In 484 adult participants we performed the anthropometric measurements, body composition analysis, and body fat distribution. The daily dietary intake was assessed using the 3-day food intake diaries. Blood glucose and insulin concentrations were measured at fasting and during oral glucose tolerance tests. Moreover, the visceral adipose tissue/subcutaneous adipose tissue (VAT/SAT) ratio and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance were calculated. We noted that participants carrying the GG genotype had lower skeletal muscle mass and fat free mass (FFM) when carbohydrate intake was > 48%, whereas they presented higher fat-free mass (FFM), and surprisingly higher total cholesterol and LDL-C concentrations when daily fiber intake was > 18 g. Moreover, in these subjects we noted higher waist circumference, BMI, and fasting glucose and insulin concentrations, when > 18% of total daily energy intake was delivered from proteins, and higher VAT content and HDL-C concentrations when > 30% of energy intake was derived from dietary fat. Our results suggest that glucose homeostasis and obesity-related parameters in carriers of some common variants of BDNF gene, especially in the GG (rs10835211) genotype carriers, may differ dependently on daily energy, dietary macronutrients and fiber intake.