The tumor necrosis factor-α gene -238GA polymorphism, dietary fat intake, obesity risk and serum lipid concentrations in black and white south African women

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study explored interactions between dietary fat intake and the tumor necrosis factor- α gene (TNFA) -238G>A polymorphism (rs361525) on adiposity and serum lipid concentrations in apparently healthy premenopausal black and white South African (SA) women. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Normal-weight (N = 107) and obese (N = 120) black, and normal-weight (N = 89) and obese (N = 62) white SA women underwent measurements of body composition, fasting lipids and dietary intake, and were genotyped for the -238 G>A polymorphism. RESULTS: Black women had a higher -238 GA genotype frequency than white women (PA genotypes and dietary fat intake on serum lipids and adiposity differed depending on dietary fat intake, but those for serum lipids were not the same in black and white SA women. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2012) 66, 1295-1302; doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2012.156; published online 17 October 2012 Keywords: TNFA polymorphisms; dietary fat; obesity; serum lipids 1% -- -- -- -- -- -- --