The interaction between the Circadian Locomotor Output Cycles Kaput and Melanocortin-4-receptor gene variants on obesity and parameters related to obesity.

Introduction: Obesity is a multifactorial disease caused by an interaction between genetic, environmental and behavioral factors. Polymorphisms of the two genes Circadian Locomotor Output Cycles Kaput (CLOCK) rs1801260 and Melanocortin-4-receptor (MC4R) rs17782313, are associated with obesity. Knowledge is limited on the interaction between CLOCK, MC4R and obesity. The aim was to explore the interactions between the CLOCK and MC4R gene variants on markers related to obesity.

Methods: There were 423 subjects with information on two genetic variants of two genes (CLOCK and MC4R). Their interaction was evaluated with: chronotype, sleeping duration, emotional eating, food timing, stress, dietary intake, appetite, physical activity (assessed by questionnaires), anthropometric measures of obesity (assessed by physical measurements), and also hormonal factors (assessed by ELISA). Generalized Linear Models were applied.

Results: Our results revealed that significant differences were observed between the genotypes of CLOCK rs1801260 for weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), cortisol, energy, fat, sleep duration, chronotype, appetite, depression, stress, emotional eating, physical activity, breakfast, lunch, and dinner time (p˂0.05). Also, significant differences were observed between the genotypes of MC4R rs17782313 for weight, BMI, Waist Circumference (WC), Waist to Hip Ratio (WHR), ghrelin, energy, carbohydrate, fat, appetite, depression, stress, breakfast time, and emotional eating (p˂0.05). Our findings also showed significant interactions between the CLOCK (CC)∗MC4R (CT) genotypes for higher appetite, stress and CLOCK (CT)∗ MC4R (CC) genotypes for higher fat and energy intake and CLOCK (CC)∗MC4R (CC) genotypes for higher weight, BMI, energy and fat intake, appetite, emotional eating, stress, ghrelin, cortisol and lower sleep duration and GLP-1 (p˂ 0.05).

Conclusion: Due to the non-significance of the interaction in CLOCK (CT)∗ MC4R (CT) genotypes, it seems that the presence of a healthy arm in the CLOCK and MC4R polymorphism is necessary for the proper function of the genes. Thus, these results highlight that gene variants and their interaction should be considered in obesity assessment.