# Association Between Industrialized Dietary Pattern and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Children With FTO RS9939609 Gene Polymorphism

## TL;DR

This study found that children with a specific obesity-related gene who eat more processed foods have higher cardiometabolic risks like elevated triglycerides.

## Contribution

The study identifies a link between the FTO gene polymorphism and increased cardiometabolic risk from industrialized diets in young children.

## Key findings

- Children with FTO gene polymorphism and industrialized diets had higher TyG index and triglycerides.
- The 'Milk and Chocolate Milk' dietary pattern was also linked to increased TyG index in children with the risk allele.

## Abstract

Dietary patterns may increase cardiometabolic risk, especially in genetically predisposed individuals. Thus, the present study evaluated the association between dietary patterns and cardiometabolic risk factors in children with fat mass and obesity associated (FTO) gene polymorphism. A cross‐sectional survey of 258 children aged 4–7 years. Body composition was determined with dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Biochemical samples and blood pressure were analyzed. Genotyping of rs9939609 was performed using oral swab samples and the TaqMan SNP test. Multiple linear regression stratified by FTO gene categories analyzed the association between dietary patterns and cardiometabolic risk factors. The prevalence of polymorphism was 20.2%. Five dietary patterns were identified: “Traditional”, “Industrialized”, “Milk and chocolate milk”, “Snack”, and “Natural”. Associations were found between the “Industrialized” dietary pattern and both the triglyceride‐glucose (TyG) index (β = 0.06; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.01–0.11) and triglycerides (β = 7.47; 95% CI: 0.73–14.21) in children with polymorphism. Additionally, “Milk and Chocolate Milk” pattern was associated with the TyG index (β = 0.03; 95% CI: 0.00–0.07) in children with a risk allele. For children with FTO gene polymorphism, adherence to the “Industrialized” dietary pattern was associated with cardiometabolic risk, highlighting the need for nutritional strategies to prevent.

This study examined how dietary patterns affect health in children aged 4–7 years, especially in the presence of the fat mass and obesity associated (FTO) gene polymorphism. Researchers found that children with FTO gene polymorphism who ate more industrialized foods had higher risks of health problems and cardiometabolic risk with higher values of the triglyceride‐glucose (TyG) index and triglycerides.