A high intake of fruits and raw vegetables can potentially modify
chromosome 9p21 genetic variants, ultimately lowering the risk for MI and CVD,
researchers reported in a recent study.
“One of the most robust genetic associations for CVD is the
chromosome 9p21 region,” researchers wrote. “However, the interaction
of this locus with environmental factors has not been extensively
explored.”
The large-scale, multiethnic study included 8,114 participants of the
INTER-HEART study, from whom the researchers genotyped four 9p21 single
nucleotide polymorphisms (rs10757274, rs2383206, rs10757278, rs1333049) based
on results from genome-wide association studies for coronary heart disease, and
a follow-up cohort of 19,129 participants from the FINRISK study who had one
closely related dietary variable (rs4977574).
Food frequency questionnaires were used to study specific dietary
patterns in the INTER-HEART study participants:
- Oriental (soy sauce, tofu, pickled foods, green leafy vegetables,
eggs, and low sugar).
- Western (eggs, meats, fried and salty foods, sugar, nuts, and
desserts).
- Prudent (raw vegetables, fruits, green leafy vegetables, nuts,
desserts, and dairy products).
Overall, all four 9p21 single nucleotide polymorphisms were associated
with MI (OR=1.18-1.20).There was a significant interaction between rs2383206
and a prudent diet pattern score. A low
prudent diet score was associated with a higher MI risk
(OR=1.32), which was diminished in a step-wise fashion in medium (OR=1.17) and
high (OR=1.02) prudent diet scores, according to study results.
Similarly, there was a higher CVD risk in low (HR=1.22) or average
(HR=1.35) diets of fresh vegetables, fruits and berries vs. a high diet
(HR=0.96), when the researchers analyzed participants (including 1,014 incident
cases of CVD) of the prospective FINRISK study.
In the INTERHEART study, researchers found a twofold increase in MI risk
with a combination of the least prudent diet and two copies of the risk allele
(OR=1.98) and a 1.66-fold increase in CVD risk in the FINRISK study (HR=1.66).
With the other dietary patterns, researchers found no significant interactions
for oriental
diet score; western diet score only had an interaction with
rs2383206 (P=.028).
Disclosures: The researchers report no relevant financial
disclosures.