Abstract Epigenetic modifications established during prenatal and early life, including DNA methylation, have been suggested as potential mediators of the interaction between environmental exposures during the perinatal period and adult metabolic health adverse outcomes, especially cardiometabolic complications and overweight. The effect of a dietary intervention in the first year of life on global methylation levels in leukocyte samples from a cohort of children born between 2001 and 2002 in southern Brazil was examined. Overall methylation measurements were performed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays on DNA samples from 237 children at 4 years old. Mean methylation values were higher in the intervention group (mean: 2.20 ± 1.31%) than in the control group (mean: 1.65 ± 1.11%; P = 0.001). It was observed that nutritional counseling in the first year increased breastfeeding duration and stimulated the development of healthier eating habits. Therefore, these factors might have contributed to increase global DNA methylation. The findings of the present study reinforce the notion that performing nutritional interventions in the early stages of life is important and provide further evidence of the interaction between the environment and epigenetic traits.

Abstract HIV-infected individuals on chronic use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) are more likely to develop adipose tissue and metabolic disorders, such as lipodystrophy (LD) and metabolic syndrome (MetS). The development of these phenotypes is known to be multifactorial. Thus, variants in genes implicated in adipogenesis and lipid metabolism may increase susceptibility to LD and MetS. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) may influence the outcome of these disturbances due to its role in the regulation of transcription factors involved in energy regulation. Therefore, we genotyped four polymorphisms located in SIRT1 (rs2273773 T>C, rs12413112 G>A, rs7895833 A>G, rs12049646 T>C) in 832 HIV-infected patients receiving HAART by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The prevalence of LD was 55.8% and MetS was 35.3%. Lipoatrophy was the most prevalent subtype in all samples (38.0%) and showed significant difference between white and non-white individuals (P = 0.002). None of the genetic variants investigated in SIRT1 was associated with LD and MetS. White individuals and those in longer time of HAART use were more likely to develop LD. We concluded that these SIRT1 polymorphisms are not predictive factors to the development of lipodystrophy and metabolic syndrome in HIV-infected individuals from Brazil.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a associação de polimorfismos de nucleotídeo único (SNPs) em cinco genes: leptina, receptor da leptina (LEPR), adiponectina (APM1), receptor ativado por proliferadores de peroxissomas gama (PPARG) e proteína desacopladora 1 com parâmetros antropométricos, metabólicos e dietéticos em uma coorte sul-brasileira composta por 325 crianças acompanhadas desde o nascimento até os 4 anos. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Os SNPs foram analisados por meio da reação em cadeia da polimerase e sua associação com os fenótipos foi avaliada utilizando teste T, análise de variância e análise fatorial. RESULTADOS: O alelo LEPR223Arg (rs1137101) foi associado a uma maior ingestão energética diária aos 4 anos (P = 0,002; Pcorrigido = 0,024). Os portadores do alelo PPARG12Ala (rs1801282) apresentaram maior glicemia em relação aos homozigotos Pro/Pro (P = 0,007; Pcorrigido = 0,042). CONCLUSÕES: Dois dos seis SNPs estudados apresentaram associações consistentes, mostrando que aos 4 anos de idade já é possível detectar as influências de variantes genéticas sobre a suscetibilidade ao excesso de peso.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in five genes - leptin, leptin receptor (LEPR), adiponectin (APM1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG) and uncoupling protein 1 - with anthropometric, metabolic, and dietary parameters in a Southern Brazilian cohort of 325 children followed up from birth to 4 years old. MATERIALS AND METHODS: SNPs were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction-based procedures, and their association with phenotypes was evaluated by t-test, analysis of variance, and general linear models. RESULTS: LEPR223Arg allele (rs1137101) was associated with higher daily energy intake at 4 years of age (P = 0.002; Pcorrected = 0.024). PPARG 12Ala-carriers (rs1801282) presented higher glucose levels than Pro/Pro homozygotes (P = 0.007; Pcorrected = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: Two of the six studied SNPs presented consistent associations, showing that it is already possible to detect the influences of genetic variants on susceptibility to overweight in 4-year-old children.