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Genetic variants and physical activity interact to affect bone density in Hispanic children
Ruixue Hou1, Shelley A Cole2, Mariaelisa Graff3
1Department of Nutrition and Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 500 Laureate Way, Kannapolis, NC, 28081, USA.
Insights
Moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) benefits bone mineral density (BMD) in Hispanic children, especially those with a high genetic risk for low BMD. Calcium intake did not show a modifying effect on this gene-environment interaction.
Area of Science:
- Human Genetics
- Pediatric Bone Health
- Gene-Environment Interactions
Background:
- Bone mineral density (BMD) is influenced by genetic factors and lifestyle.
- Understanding gene-environment interactions is crucial for optimizing bone health in children.
- Hispanic children represent a population group where these interactions may be particularly relevant.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interaction between physical activity, calcium intake, and BMD-related genetic variants (SNPs) on BMD in Hispanic children.
- To determine if lifestyle factors modify the effect of genetic predisposition on bone health.
- To assess the combined influence of polygenic risk scores (PRS), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and calcium intake on BMD.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 750 Hispanic children (4-19 years) from the Viva La Familia Study.
- Assessment of MVPA using accelerometers and dietary intake via 24-hour recalls.
- Measurement of total body and lumbar spine BMD using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.
- Computation of a polygenic risk score (PRS) based on known BMD-related SNPs.
- Regression analysis to examine interactions between PRS, MVPA, and calcium intake with BMD.
Main Results:
- Statistically significant interaction between PRS and MVPA on total body and lumbar spine BMD (p < 0.05).
- Higher PRS was associated with lower BMD in the low MVPA group.
- Calcium intake did not significantly modify the relationship between genetic variants and BMD.
Conclusions:
- Physical activity interacts with genetic variants to influence BMD in Hispanic children.
- MVPA provides greater benefits for bone health in children with a high genetic risk for low BMD.
- Findings can inform personalized strategies for disease risk prediction and health advice delivery.
Background:
Our aim was to investigate if moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), calcium intake interacts with bone mineral density (BMD)-related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to influence BMD in 750 Hispanic children (4-19y) of the cross-sectional Viva La Familia Study.
Methods:
Physical activity and dietary intake were measured by accelerometers and multiple-pass 24 h dietary recalls, respectively. Total body and lumbar spine BMD were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. A polygenic risk score (PRS) was computed based on SNPs identified in published literature. Regression analysis was conducted with PRSs, MVPA and calcium intake with total body and lumbar spine BMD.
Results:
We found evidence of statistically significant interaction effects between the PRS and MVPA on total body BMD and lumbar spine BMD (p < 0.05). Higher PRS was associated with a lower total body BMD (β = - 0.040 ± 0.009, p = 1.1 × 10- 5) and lumbar spine BMD (β = - 0.042 ± 0.013, p = 0.0016) in low MVPA group, as compared to high MVPA group (β = - 0.015 ± 0.006, p = 0.02; β = 0.008 ± 0.01, p = 0.4, respectively).
Discussion:
The study indicated that calcium intake does not modify the relationship between genetic variants and BMD, while it implied physical activity interacts with genetic variants to affect BMD in Hispanic children. Due to limited sample size of our study, future research on gene by environment interaction on bone health and functional studies to provide biological insights are needed.
Conclusions:
Bone health in Hispanic children with high genetic risk for low BMD is benefitted more by MVPA than children with low genetic risk. Our results may be useful to predict disease risk and tailor dietary and physical activity advice delivery to people, especially children.
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