Leucine 7 to proline 7 polymorphism in the neuropeptide Y gene and changes in serum lipids during a family-based counselling intervention among school-aged children with a family history of CVD

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveTo compare whether serum lipids and their changes during a health education intervention are associated with the Leu7Pro polymorphism in the signal peptide part of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in children with normal weight and in those with overweight.DesignAn intervention study.SettingA family-based intervention of risk factors for prevention of CHD in Finland.SubjectsSubjects were 443 children with a family history of CVD participating in family-based health education. The children were divided into two groups according to NPY genotype: children with Leu7/Pro7 or Pro7/Pro7 genotype (n50) and children with Leu7/Leu7 genotype (n393). The final sample of the follow-up study included 353 (80 %) children (Pro7 allelle carriers,n43; Leu7/Leu7,n310).ResultsAt baseline, the Leu7Pro polymorphism was not associated with serum lipid values after adjustment for body weight in boys or girls. There was a significant interaction of NPY genotype group by time and body weight (P= 0·043 for three-way interaction: time × NPY genotype × body weight) in LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) concentration among boys. LDL-C decreased among boys with normal weight in both NPY groups and in overweight boys with the Leu7/Leu7 genotype, whereas it increased in overweight boys with the Pro7 allele. Two-way interaction (time × NPY genotype) showed no significant differences in changes of serum lipids between the NPY genotype groups among boys or girls.ConclusionsThe Leu7Pro polymorphism may be associated with dietary response to LDL-C concentration in overweight boys with a family history of early-onset CVD.