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Genotype can be changed by overweight
According to a new study, excess pounds are not only deposited on the hips, but also on the DNA. An increased body mass index (BMI) therefore leads to epigenetic changes in almost 200 sites of the genome. And that has effects on the genes.
Being overweight not just due to poor diet
Pushing your own overweight on "bad genes" is ridiculed by many as an excuse. But even if it is mostly due to the diet and lack of exercise that people are too fat, the genes also play a significant role. The genes themselves hardly change in the course of a life, but their environment already. For example through certain lifestyle factors. Thus, researchers have now found that obesity can affect the genetic material.
According to a new study, the holiday pounds are not only deposited on the hips, but also on the DNA. An increased BMI therefore leads to changes in around 200 sites of the genome. (Image: Kurhan / fotolia.com) How the genes affect the weight
It has long been known that the lifestyle of the parents can have an influence on the potential overweight of the offspring. In recent years, scientists worldwide have found many new insights into the influence of genes on weight.
For example, an international research team found a gene responsible for obesity and Japanese scientists reported late last year that they discovered a fat-burning gene.
Excess pounds are deposited on the DNA
But the reverse is also true: Obesity can affect the genetic material. In a large international study led by the Helmholtz Zentrum München, it has now been determined that excess pounds can be deposited on the DNA.
The study, published in the journal Nature, shows that an increased body mass index (BMI) leads to epigenetic changes in nearly 200 sites of the genome - with effects on genes.
Genes hardly change in the course of life
While our genes hardly change over the course of life, our lifestyle can have a direct impact on their environment. Scientists speak here of the epigenome, so everything that happens on and around the genes, reports the Helmholtz Center in a press release.
So far, it has hardly been studied how the epigenome changes due to obesity. "The question is certainly relevant in an estimated one and a half billion overweight people worldwide," said the first author of the study. Simone Wahl of the Department of Molecular Epidemiology (AME) at Helmholtz Zentrum München.
"Especially when you know that overweight can lead to sequelae such as diabetes, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases."
Relationships between BMI and epigenetic changes
The researchers therefore examined possible associations between BMI and epigenetic changes. The blood samples from more than 10,000 women and men from Europe were examined.
A larger part of them were residents of London of Indian descent who, according to the authors, are at high risk for obesity and metabolic diseases.
Changes in genes responsible for lipid metabolism
In a first step, the scientists identified 207 gene loci that were epigenetically altered depending on the BMI. Further tests confirmed 187 of them.
Further studies and long-term observations also indicated that much of the change was a result of overweight and not its cause.
"Significant changes were mainly to genes that are responsible for fat metabolism and mass transport, but also inflammation genes were affected," said group leader Harald Grallert from the AME.
Predict and prevent sequelae of overweight
In addition, the team identified epigenetic markers from the data to predict the risk of type 2 diabetes.
"Our results allow new insights into which signaling pathways are affected by obesity," said Christian Gieger, director of AME. "We hope it will lead to new strategies for predicting and at best preventing type 2 diabetes and other consequences of obesity." (Ad)