Body composition phenotype: Italian Mediterranean Diet and C677T MTHFR gene polymorphism interaction

OBJECTIVES : Strategies to im - proveweightmaintenancearefocusedonconsid - ering the genetic makeup and its interaction with dietary intake, with the aim to identify vulnerable individualsthatwillbenefitfromavarietyofmore personalized dietary recommendations.The aim of the study was to examine the impact of the C677TMTHFRgenePolymorphism onbodycom - position changes induced by a balanced hypocaloricItalianMediteranneandiet(IMD). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Participation in the study included a complete screening of an - thropometry and body composition by Dual-en - ergyX-rayabsorptiometry(DXA),andagenotyp - ingfortheC677TMTHFRpolymorphism. 70 Italian Caucasian obese were enrolled and 56 of them completed the screening at baseline and12weeksafterthenutritionalintervention. RESULTS: T(+) carriers had a higher content of Total Body Fat (TBFat), and Lean (TBLean), re - flecting on higher weight and BMI, thanT(-) carri- ers. After IMD, the 28.6% and 71.4% of total sub - jects decreased weight andTBFat (Kg), respec - tively.The relative changes were: delta % = @9.09±3.85 for weight; delta % = @15.79±8.51 for TBFat;delta%=@3.80±5.60forTBLean.The5.3% of subjects who reached the end point of inter - vention,andthe8.9%whoreducedTBFat(%)be - low the cut-off of preobesity, wereT(-) carriers. A loss ofTBLean (Kg) was observed in the 5.1% and23.5%ofT(-)andT(+)carriers. CONCLUSIONS: MTHFR genetic variations analysis would be an innovative tool for the nu - tritionalassessment,inordertopredictthether - apeutic response of obese subjects, in terms of fatandleanmassloss.