PPARG Genotype Accounts for Part of Individual Variation in Body Weight Reduction in Response to Calorie Restriction

Several studies indicate that expression of the peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor γ ( PPARG ) gene is influenced by calorie restriction. The aim of this study was to investigate whether PPARG gene variations are associated with weight reduction and changes in coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors in response to a 14‐week calorie restriction. In total, 95 middle‐aged, Japanese women (BMI ≥25 kg/m 2 ) enrolled as subjects for 14 weeks and attended weekly dietary lectures instructing them on how to consume a nutritionally balanced diet of 1,200 kcal/day. Eight single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the PPARG gene (rs1801282 (Pro/Ala), rs2292101, rs2959272, rs1386835, rs709158, rs1175540, rs1175544, and rs1797912) were analyzed. Body weight decreased significantly (−7.7 ± 3.1 kg; −11.3 ± 4.4%) during the intervention. Six PPARG SNPs (rs2959272, rs1386835, rs709158, rs1175540, rs1175544, and rs1797912) were significantly associated with the weight reduction, with rs1175544 having the strongest association ( P = 0.004). No differences across the rs1175544 genotypes were observed in any of the blood analyses or in blood pressure. In a multiple regression analysis, the rs1175544 genotypes accounted for 7% of the total weight reduction variance. These data suggest that one SNP of the PPARG genotype accounted for a significant portion of the total body weight reduction variance in response to a short‐term intervention consisting of calorie restriction; however, no relationship was found between these SNPs and the changes in CHD risk factors which accompanied weight loss.