Association of Carbohydrate Consumption and Bloating in Individuals With Different FTO Genotypes

Emerging evidence suggests that genetic variations in the FTO gene may modulate individual responses to dietary carbohydrate intake, potentially influencing susceptibility to gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating. This study investigated the association between carbohydrate intake and bloating across different FTO genotypes. In this case-control study, 229 women with bloating and 224 healthy women were included. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire consisting of 168 items. FTO rs9939609 polymorphism was genotyped using Tetra-ARMS PCR. Logistic regression models were used to examine associations, adjusting for potential confounders. Among TT genotype carriers of the FTO rs9939609 polymorphism, individuals with bloating had significantly higher body weight and greater maltose intake than controls. In multivariable analyses, maltose was positively associated with bloating in TT carriers (OR = 1.938, 95% CI: 1.079-3.480, p = 0.027), whereas galactose was positively associated with bloating in AT/AA carriers (OR = 1.152, 95% CI: 1.022-1.298, p = 0.029). The findings suggest that genotype-informed dietary strategies regarding carbohydrate intake may be useful for managing bloating and related gastrointestinal symptoms.