Effect of the variant rs7903146 of Transcription factor 7-like 2(TCF7L2) gene on anthropometric and metabolic responses to a 24 weeks meal replacement Hypocaloric diet.

Abstract

Introduction: Some studies have demonstrated the effect of the rs7903146 genetic variant on weight response after different dietary strategies. The objective of our study was to evaluate the role of this genetic variant of the TCF7L2 gene on weight loss and diabetes mellitus progression following a partial meal replacement (pMR) hypocaloric diet.

Methods: We conducted an interventional study in 214 subjects with obesity and a body mass index (BMI) > 35 kg/m². The subjects received two servings per day of a normocaloric hyperproteic formula for 24 weeks as part of a pMR diet. Body weight, body mass index (BMI), fat mass, waist circumference, lipid profile, fasting insulin levels, and HOMA-IR were determined. All patients were genotyped for rs7903146 and evaluated under a dominant model (CC vs. CT+TT).

Results: The decrease at 24 weeks was higher in non-T allele carriers compared to T allele carriers (BMI: -3.3±0.3 kg/m² vs. -2.2±0.2 kg/m², p=0.02; weight: -9.5±1.1 kg vs. -5.0±1.0 kg, p=0.01; fat mass: -8.7±0.2 kg vs. -4.0±0.2 kg, p=0.04; waist circumference: -8.0±0.2 cm vs. -3.0±0.4 cm, p=0.04; glucose levels: -7.1±1.2 mg/dL vs. -1.2±1.1 mg/dL, p=0.01; insulin: -10.1±1.1 µIU/L vs. -4.0±1.0 µIU/L, p=0.01; HOMA-IR: -2.1±1.1 units vs. -0.5±0.1 units, p=0.01; C-reactive protein: -0.9±0.1 mg/dL vs. -0.4±0.2 mg/dL, p=0.01; triglycerides: -17.1±0.1 mg/dL vs. -9.1±0.2 mg/dL, p=0.01; and HbA1c: -1±0.1% vs. -0.3±0.2%, p=0.01). Following the dietary intervention, only non-T allele carriers showed a significant decrease in the frequency of hypertriglyceridemia, abdominal waist, hyperglycemia, and DM2.

Conclusions: The TCF7L2 (rs7903146) polymorphism modulates pMR diet-induced changes in body weight, lipid metabolism, and insulin resistance. These changes lead to a significant decrease in the prevalence of hyperglycemia and other components of metabolic syndrome.