Slimness Attributed to a Genetic Variant Linked to Cell Nutrition, Study Says

To what extent do genes impact body weight? According to SciTechDaily, previous research assumes that genetics account for around 20% of one's body weight across the population in general. According to Spanish National CNIO (Cancer Research Centre) researcher Nerea Deleyto-Seldas, such estimations mean that factors pertaining to lifestyle play significant roles. However, genetics also has a vital place.

Almost a Hundred Genetic Variants Found to Moderately Boost High BMI Likelihood

Approximately 100 different genetic variants have been identified to moderately boost the probability of higher BMIs. However, the Spanish National CNIO and the IMDEA Food Institute have noted yet another variant. This discovery was included in the Genome Biology publication.

Genetic Variant Directly Affects Body Fat Amount

Genetic variants are gene versions that vary slightly. In most cases, they do not lead to visible body alterations. However, this particular variant does bring about such changes as it affects body fat amount. The authors also reveal its particular prevalence across Europe, as it is presumed to be present across almost 60% of Europe's population.

According to the CNIO's Metabolism and Cell Signaling Group head Alejo Efeyan, such a finding is a remarkable step forward in knowing more about obesity's genetic components. IMDEA Food Institute director Ana Ramirez de Molina also thinks that knowing more about how the "cellular nutrient-sensing pathway" plays a role in obesity may impact the development and application of strategies to prevent and treat obesity.

In order to spot variants that affect obesity and overweight conditions, the IMDEA Food Institute team gathered genetic data and material, including BMI, body weight, muscle mass, total and visceral fat, and hip and waist measurements. They collected such data from 790 volunteers.

The experts looked into probable links of such parameters to 48 different variants chosen according to probable relevance in terms of function. They found a significant correlation shared by one particular variant and the FNIP2 gene and several parameters linked to obesity.

According to News Medical, the experts looked into variant effects across mice models. They noted that mice with such a variant had lesser fat (around 10% to 15% lesseR) compared to their counterparts that did not host such a genetic variant.

However, the precise strength of the variant cannot be estimated because it is impossible to isolate it from other environmental and genetic variables. Also, considering how the impact of genetics on body fat does not go beyond 20%, the variant's contribution is quite small.

Because of this, researchers use labels like "tendency" and "predisposition." Efeyan also clarifies that this does not mean that those with the variant can eat excessively without gaining fat.

Genetic Variant Linked to Cell Nutrition

Such a variant can be found within a gene involved in the signaling path that informs the cell of the available nutrients. Nerea Deleyto mentions how future aims include a better understanding of the molecular grounds for such effects of the variant. Deleyto also notes how a need to boost genetic tools is necessary for dissecting when functional effects of such variants are essential for the organism.

Such findings also pose questions in other scientific fields, including how particular evolutionary pressures have led to such a variant and when the variant came to be.

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