Hunger and Mood during Extended Fasting Are Dependent on the GNB3 C825T Polymorphism

• Published in: Annals of nutrition and metabolism Vol. 54; no. 3; pp. 184 - 188
• Main Authors: Michalsen, Andreas, Frey, Ulrich H., Merse, Stefanie, Siffert, Winfried, Dobos, Gustav J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland S. Karger AG 01.01.2009
• Subjects: Affect; Affect - physiology; Analysis of Variance; appetite; Body Mass Index; Caloric Restriction; Chi-Square Distribution; complications; diet therapy; dietary restriction; Emotions; Fasting; Fasting - physiology; Female; food intake; Gene Frequency; genetic polymorphism; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; genetics; Genotype; Genotype & phenotype; Genotypes; Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins; Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins - genetics; Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins - physiology; Humans; Hunger; Hunger - physiology; Low Back Pain; Low Back Pain - complications; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity; Obesity - diet therapy; Original Paper; Osteoarthritis; Osteoarthritis - complications; physiology; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide - genetics; satiety; Weight control; weight control programs; Weight Loss; Colonic restriction; Genotype; Fasting; Mood; GNB3 C825T polymorphism
• ISSN: 0250-6807; 1421-9697; 1421-9697
• DOI: 10.1159/000217815

Background/Aims: The 825T allele of the G protein β3-subunit gene (GNB3) is a thrifty genotype associated with an increased risk for obesity. We aimed to determine whether the 825T allele is modifying the subjective response to extended fasting. Methods: We genotyped 108 subjects who underwent an 8-day modified medical fasting treatment [total energy intake <350 kcal (1465 kJ)/day] for the GNB3 C825T polymorphism. Perceived hunger and mood were recorded daily by self-rating visual analogue scales. Results: Whereas weight loss was not dependent on genotype, both mood and hunger were significantly associated with genotype, with homozygous CC genotype carriers having best mood (p = 0.004) and least hunger (p = 0.036) during fasting compared to TT genotype carriers. Conclusions: Pronounced mental discomfort during fasting in 825T allele carriers might partly explain their increased risk for obesity. The strong association between the subjective response to fasting with GNB3 genotypes indicates a role of the gene in the behavioural regulation of food intake, which should be further considered in nutritional intervention studies.