Polymorphism rs16147 of the Neuropeptide Y Gene Modifies the Response of Cardiovascular Risk Biomarkers and Adipokines to Two Hypocaloric Diets.

Aims: Our aim was to evaluate the relationship of weight loss and changes in adipokine levels after two hypocaloric diets in obese subjects with polymorphism rs16147 of the neuropeptide Y gene.

Subjects and methods: A population of 283 obese patients was analyzed. At the basal visit, patients were randomly allocated to one of two diets for a period of 3 months (diet I, low in carbohydrates; diet II, low in fat).

Results: With diet I and in both genotype groups (major versus minor allele), body mass index (BMI), weight, fat mass, waist circumference, and leptin decreased. With diet II and in all genotypes, BMI, weight, fat mass, waist circumference, and leptin decreased. With both diets and in subjects with the minor allele, insulin levels (diet I: major allele -1.7 ± 7.8 IU/L versus minor allele -4.2 ± 6.1 IU/L, p = 0.01; diet II: major allele -2.3 ± 6.1 IU/L versus minor allele -4.0 ± 5.2 IU/L, p = 0.02) and insulin resistance (diet I: major allele -0.2 ± 3.1 units versus minor allele -1.7 ± 3.0 units, p = 0.03; diet II: major allele -0.9 ± 2.0 units versus minor allele -1.7 ± 1.3 units, p = 0.01) decreased.

Conclusion: The rs16147 genotype affected the reduction in insulin resistance and insulin levels in response to two different hypocaloric diets in obese subjects, with a lack of response in subjects with the major allele.