Effect of the Interaction between Seaweed Intake and LPL Polymorphisms on Metabolic Syndrome in Middle-Aged Korean Adults.

This study aimed to examine the effect of the interaction between seaweed (laver, kelp, and sea mustard) intake and lipoprotein lipase gene (LPL) rs17482735 genotypes on the incidence of metabolic syndrome (MetS). The Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) data of Korean adults aged 40-69 years were used in this study. Information on seaweed intake was obtained from the food frequency questionnaire. To investigate the interaction between seaweed intake and LPL rs17482735 genotypes on the incidence of MetS, multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used after adjusting for confounding variables. There was no significant association in women, but men with TG and TT genotypes of rs17482753 had lower incidence of MetS (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.71-0.95, p-value = 0.01), low HDL-cholesterol levels (HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.69-0.95, p-value = 0.01), high triglyceride levels (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.70-0.99, p-value = 0.0471), and high blood pressure (HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.67-0.93, p-value = 0.004). Furthermore, the incidence of MetS was lower in men with the highest laver and total seaweed intake and TG and TT genotypes of rs17482735 (HR 0.60, 95% CI 0.43-0.84; HR 0.57, 95% CI 0.41-0.79, respectively). High seaweed intake was negatively associated with MetS, suggesting that LPL genetic variations, particularly in men, may be helpful in preventing MetS. These results demonstrate that seaweed intake considering LPL genotypes may be beneficial for preventing and treating MetS.

Identifying the Associations of Nightly Fasting Duration and Meal Timing with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Using Data from the 2016-2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey.

Nightly fasting duration and meal timing are associated with metabolic disorders. This study aimed to investigate the relationships of nightly fasting duration and meal timing with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) using data from the 2016-2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey. A total of 22,685 adults ≥ 19 years were included in this study. Nightly fasting duration was calculated by subtracting the interval between the day's first and last meal eating times from 24 h. The meal timing were analyzed using various parameters, including the times of the first and last eating episodes and the percentage of energy intake during the morning (05:00 to 9:00 a.m.), evening (06:00 to 09:00 p.m.), and night (after 09:00 p.m.). Men who fasted nightly for ≥ 12 h had lower odds of T2DM (odds ratio (OR): 0.86; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.75-0.99) than those who fasted for < 12 h. Individuals who had their last meal after 09:00 p.m. had higher odds of T2DM (OR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.03-1.38, men; OR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.01-1.40, women). Additionally, the percentage of energy intake during the evening was associated with increased odds of T2DM (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.08-1.84, men; OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.02-1.70, women). These findings emphasize the importance of nightly fasting duration and meal timing in modulating the risk of T2DM among Korean adults.

Gene-Nutrient Interactions in Obesity: COBLL1 Genetic Variants Interact with Dietary Fat Intake to Modulate the Incidence of Obesity.

The COBLL1 gene is associated with leptin, a hormone important for appetite and weight maintenance. Dietary fat is a significant factor in obesity. This study aimed to determine the association between COBLL1 gene, dietary fat, and incidence of obesity. Data from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study were used, and 3055 Korean adults aged ≥ 40 years were included. Obesity was defined as a body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2. Patients with obesity at baseline were excluded. The effects of the COBLL1 rs6717858 genotypes and dietary fat on incidence of obesity were evaluated using multivariable Cox proportional hazard models. During an average follow-up period of 9.2 years, 627 obesity cases were documented. In men, the hazard ratio (HR) for obesity was higher in CT, CC carriers (minor allele carriers) in the highest tertile of dietary fat intake than for men with TT carriers in the lowest tertile of dietary fat intake (Model 1: HR: 1.66, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-2.58; Model 2: HR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.04-2.56). In women, the HR for obesity was higher in TT carriers in the highest tertile of dietary fat intake than for women with TT carriers in the lowest tertile of dietary fat intake (Model 1: HR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.08-2.06; Model 2: HR: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.10-2.13). COBLL1 genetic variants and dietary fat intake had different sex-dependent effects in obesity. These results imply that a low-fat diet may protect against the effects of COBLL1 genetic variants on future obesity risk.

Association between Green Tea Consumption and Abdominal Obesity Risk in Middle-Aged Korean Population: Findings from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study.

The prevalence of general and abdominal obesity is increasing with rapid economic growth and the westernization of dietary habits in Korea, especially in the middle-aged population. Data were obtained from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES), which recruited 10,030 participants between the ages of 40 and 69 years. Information on green tea consumption was obtained from the food frequency questionnaire and categorized as none, <1 cup, between 1 and <4 cups, and ≥4 cups. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the ORs and 95% CIs to examine any possible associations between green tea consumption and the risk of abdominal obesity after controlling for potential confounders. High consumption of green tea was associated with a 44% lower odds ratio for abdominal obesity (none vs. ≥4 cups/week: OR, 0.56; 95% CI 0.41-0.78; p for trend = 0.001). When stratified by sex, an inverse association between green tea consumption and abdominal obesity was observed only in women (none vs. ≥4 cups/week: OR, 0.71; 95% CI 0.57−0.88; p for trend = 0.004). No significant association was found among men. Our findings indicate that green tea consumption has beneficial effects in the prevention of abdominal obesity in middle-aged Korean women.