The Gly385(388)Arg Polymorphism of the FGFR4 Receptor Regulates Hepatic Lipogenesis Under Healthy Diet.

Context: The effect of a lifestyle intervention to reduce liver fat content in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in humans is influenced by genetics. We hypothesized that the amino acid exchange in human Gly388Arg (mouse homolog: Gly385Arg) in fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4), which regulates bile acid, lipid, and glucose metabolism, could determine hepatic lipid accumulation and insulin sensitivity. Mechanisms of this substitution were studied in mice under normal chow and high-fat diets.

Cardiorespiratory fitness determines the reduction in blood pressure and insulin resistance during lifestyle intervention.

Objective: Lifestyle intervention is not always effective for improving arterial hypertension and other cardiovascular risk factors, and the parameters determining the outcome are not known. Because high cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) protects from cardiovascular disease and mortality, we determined whether CRF at baseline predicts the improvement of blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors during a lifestyle intervention.

Methods: A total of 219 patients at risk for type 2 diabetes, who underwent a 9-month lifestyle intervention with diet modification and increase in physical activity, and had measurement of CRF, were studied.