Variants in the PPARGC1A Gene may Influence the Effect of Fat Intake on Resting Metabolic Rate in Obese Women

Recent studies have shown that dietary intake and genetic variants play a decisive role in the risk of obesity. Therefore, this study was designed to examine the interaction between dietary fat and PPARGC1A polymorphisms on the level of resting metabolic rate (RMR). We enrolled 288 Iranian overweight and obese women in this cross‐sectional study. We sequenced the 648 b.p. DNA in Exon 8 of PPARGC1A gene. We analyzed the two single‐nucleotide polymorphisms, namely rs11290186 and rs2970847, in this region. All participants were assessed for RMR, dietary intake, and body composition. This study demonstrated that total cholesterol and insulin levels were positively associated with T allele carriers of rs2970847. Moreover, the A‐deletion allele carrier of the rs11290186 genotype had higher triacylglycerol and insulin concentrations. The current study revealed that, after adjustment for energy intake, the AA genotype of PPARGC1A (rs11290186) had a direct association with polyunsaturated fatty acids and linoleic acid intakes. Another important finding in our study was that there was an interaction seen between fat and saturated fatty acids intake with the PPARGC1A genotypes. Women with fat intakes of more than 30% of calorie intake per day and the A‐deletion genotype had a lower RMR and RMR/fat free mass (FFM). It seems that the PPARGC1A polymorphisms lead to the downregulation of insulin signaling and subsequently insulin resistance. In addition, the interactions between the PPARGC1A polymorphisms (rs11290186) and the level of dietary fat intake probably can have an effect on RMR and RMR/FFM in obese women.