Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

The first epigenome-wide association study of BMI identified DNA methylation at an HIF3A locus associated with BMI. We tested the hypothesis that DNA methylation variants are associated with BMI according to intake of B vitamins. In two large cohorts, we found significant interactions between the DNA methylation-associated HIF3A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs3826795 and intake of B vitamins on 10-year changes in BMI. The association between rs3826795 and BMI changes consistently increased across the tertiles of total vitamin B2 and B12 intake (all P for interaction <0.01). The differences in the BMI changes per increment of minor allele were -0.10 (SE 0.06), -0.01 (SE 0.06), and 0.12 (SE 0.07) within subgroups defined by increasing tertiles of total vitamin B2 intake and -0.10 (SE 0.06), -0.01 (SE 0.06), and 0.10 (SE 0.07) within subgroups defined by increasing tertiles of total vitamin B12 intake. In two independent cohorts, a DNA methylation variant in HIF3A was associated with BMI changes through interactions with total or supplemental vitamin B2, vitamin B12, and folate. These findings suggest a potential causal relation between DNA methylation and adiposity.

Original publication

DOI

10.2337/db15-0264

Type

Journal article

Journal

Diabetes

Publication Date

09/2015

Volume

64

Pages

3146 - 3154

Addresses

Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA.

Keywords

Humans, Obesity, Weight Gain, Vitamin B 12, Folic Acid, Riboflavin, Vitamin B Complex, Vitamin B 6, Body Mass Index, Diet, Cohort Studies, Longitudinal Studies, Prospective Studies, DNA Methylation, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Adult, Aged, Middle Aged, United States, Female, Male, Overweight, Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors, Gene-Environment Interaction, United Kingdom