Physical Activity and Sex Modulate Obesity Risk Linked to 3111T C Gene Variant of the CLOCK Gene in an Elderly Population: The SUN Project

• Published in: Chronobiology international Vol. 29; no. 10; pp. 1397 - 1404
• Main Authors: Galbete, Cecilia, Contreras, Rafael, Martínez, J. Alfredo, Martínez-González, Miguel Ángel, Guillén-Grima, Francisco, Marti, Amelia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Informa Healthcare 01.12.2012; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Alleles; Body mass index; CLOCK; CLOCK Proteins - genetics; Cross-sectional study; Female; Gene Frequency - genetics; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genotype; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Motor Activity - genetics; Mutation - genetics; Obesity - genetics; Obesity risk; Overweight - genetics; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide - genetics; rs1801260; Sex Factors
• DOI: 10.3109/07420528.2012.728657
• ISSN: 0742-0528; 1525-6073

Genetic factors may interact with physical activity levels to modify obesity risk. Our aim was to explore the influence of rs1801260 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (3111T C) of CLOCK gene on obesity risk, and to examine its potential interaction with lifestyle factors in an elderly population within the SUN ("Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra") Project. Subjects (n = 903, aged 69 ± 6 yrs) were recruited from the SUN Project. DNA was obtained from saliva, whereas lifestyle and dietary data were collected by validated self-report questionnaires. Genotype was assessed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) plus allele discrimination. A significant interaction was observed between the 3111T C SNP of CLOCK gene and sex for overweight obesity risk (p for sex × CLOCK interaction <.001). Our results showed that women carrying the C allele of CLOCK gene had a marginally significant lower risk of overweight obesity compared with noncarrier-TT-subjects (odds ratio [OR]: .61, 95% confidence interval [CI]: .36-1.04; p = .069). Moreover, this association of the C allele with a decreased overweight obesity risk might be enhanced in those women with a high physical activity level. Women practicing more than 16.8 metabolic equivalent tasks (hours per week) had a significantly lower overweight obesity risk (OR: .36, 95% CI: .17-.79; p = .011). Furthermore, a significant interaction between the 3111T C gene variant and physical activity (PA) for overweight obesity risk was observed but only in women (p for PA × CLOCK interaction <.050). In conclusion, it appears that physical activity levels may act by modifying the association of the 3111T C SNP (rs1801260) of the CLOCK gene with overweight obesity risk in elderly women in the SUN Project.