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Relation between Polygenic Risk Score, Vitamin D Status and BMI-for-Age z Score in Chinese Preschool Children

Luolan Peng1, Tingting Liu1, Chao Han1

  • 1Key Laboratory of Trace Element Nutrition of National Health Commission, National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China.

Nutrients
|March 28, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Maintaining adequate vitamin D levels may help lower BMI-for-age z-scores in Chinese preschoolers with low to intermediate genetic susceptibility to obesity. This study explored the interplay between genetics, vitamin D status, and childhood obesity.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Nutritional Science
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a growing concern, influenced by both genetic predisposition and nutritional factors like vitamin D deficiency.
  • The specific role of vitamin D status in relation to polygenic risk for childhood obesity remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between genetic factors, vitamin D status, and BMI-for-age z-score (zBMI) in Chinese preschool children.
  • To determine if vitamin D status modifies the association between polygenic risk scores and childhood obesity.

Main Methods:

  • 1046 Chinese preschool children (3.7–6.6 years) were analyzed.
  • Polygenic risk score (PRS) was calculated using 55 BMI-related SNPs.
  • Serum 25(OH)D levels measured by LC/MS-MS served as the index for vitamin D status.

Main Results:

  • Polygenic risk score (PRS) positively correlated with zBMI (rS=0.0953, p=0.0022).
  • Vitamin D status (25(OH)D) negatively correlated with zBMI (rS=-0.1082, p=0.0005).
  • Higher zBMI was observed in vitamin D insufficient preschoolers within low and intermediate PRS groups. Genetic risk positively associated with zBMI in vitamin D sufficient children.

Conclusions:

  • Vitamin D status is negatively associated with zBMI in Chinese preschoolers.
  • Adequate vitamin D levels may help mitigate zBMI in children with low and intermediate genetic susceptibility to obesity.
Abstract

Keywords:
obesitypolygenic risk scorevitamin D statuszBMI

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