| Abstrakt: |
We examined the associations of vegetarianism with metabolic biomarkers using traditional and genetic epidemiology. First, we addressed inconsistencies in self-reported vegetarianism among UK Biobank participants by utilizing data from two dietary surveys to find a cohort of strict European vegetarians (N = 2,312). Vegetarians were matched 1:4 with nonvegetarians for non-genetic association analyses, revealing significant effects of vegetarianism in 15 of 30 biomarkers. Cholesterol measures plus vitamin D were significantly lower in vegetarians, while triglycerides were higher. A genome-wide association study revealed no genome-wide significant (GWS; 5×10−8) associations with vegetarian behavior. We performed genome-wide gene-vegetarianism interaction analyses for the biomarkers, and detected a GWS interaction impacting calcium at rs72952628 (P = 4.47×10−8). rs72952628 is in MMAA, a B12 metabolic pathway gene; B12 has major deficiency potential in vegetarians. Gene-based interaction tests revealed two significant genes, RNF168 in testosterone (P = 1.45×10−6) and DOCK4 in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (P = 6.76×10−7), which have previously been associated with testicular and renal traits, respectively. These nutrigenetic findings indicate genotype can modify the associations between vegetarianism and health outcomes. Author summary: The popularity of vegetarianism continues to rise, particularly among those seeking to improve their overall health. However, vegetarianism studies have been susceptible to imprecise definitions of dietary intake, and to biased selection of health-conscious participants. Moreover, previous studies have not considered the modifying effects of individual genetic background. Here, we use data from two separate dietary surveys in the UK Biobank to define participants who were most likely to have followed a strict vegetarian diet. Using this cohort in an epidemiological analysis without consideration of genetics, we estimated the effects of vegetarianism on 30 serum biomarkers for cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular, bone, renal and liver diseases. We replicated established health benefits of vegetarianism in lowering cholesterol, and found evidence of potentially negative effects, such as raised triglycerides and lowered vitamin D. Furthermore, we performed genome-wide gene-vegetarianism interaction analysis for these 30 serum biomarkers. We identified three novel genetic factors that modify the effects of vegetarianism on calcium, testosterone, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). These novel gene-vegetarian interactions are the first of their kind, and all located within biologically relevant genes. These findings can assist in the design of personalized nutrition recommendations and future clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
