LAUSR

BACKGROUND The main genetic variant described in NPY gene is rs16147 (G-399A) and it is located within the promoter region upstream of the gene for neropeptide Y (NPY). We evaluate the effects of the rs16147 NPY gene polymorphism on metabolic changes secondary to weight loss after 3 months of a hypocaloric diet in adult obese patients. METHODS A population of 82 obese patients was analysed in an interventional design of one arm. Before and after 3 months on a hypocaloric diet, an anthropometric evaluation, an assessment of nutritional intake and a biochemical analysis were performed. The statistical analysis was performed for combined GA and AA as a group (minor allele group) and GG as second group (major allele group) (dominant model). RESULTS In A allele carriers, the mean (SD) decrease in weight was -2.8 (2.2) kg [decrease in non A allele carriers -2.6 (1.1) kg, P > 0.05), body mass index was -1.2 (0.6) kg m-2 [decrease in non A allele carriers -1.1 (0.8) kg m-2 , P > 0.05], fat mass was -1.7 (1.4) kg [decrease in non A allele carriers -1.9 (1.3) kg, P > 0.05], waist circumference was -5.5 (3.4) cm [decrease in non A allele carriers -3.7 (4.1) cm, P = 0.006], C-reactive protein (CRP) was -0.7 (0.6) mg dL-1 [decrease in non A allele carriers -0.1 (0.3) mg dL-1 , P = 0.02], insulin was -1.5 (0.4) mUI L-1 [decrease in non A allele carriers -0.8 (2.0) mUI L-1 , P = 0.001] and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was -0.4 (0.5) [decrease in non A allele carriers -0.2 (0.1), P = 0.005]. interleukin (IL)-6 changes were significant in A allele carriers [-0.7 (0.2) pg mL-1 ] versus non A allele carriers [-0.1 (0.3) pg mL-1 ] (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS We found that the rs164147 genotype affected the reduction of waist circumference, HOMA-IR, insulin, CRP and IL-6 levels in response to weight loss diet in obese subjects.