Abstract P284: Role of a Genetic Risk Score with Dietary Intake and Physical Activity in Relation to Metabolic Syndrome

Background: Studies have found associations between genetic polymorphisms, food intake, physical activity, body mass index, and metabolic syndrome (METs). Objective: We hypothesized that a genetic risk score (GRS) with food intake and physical activity are influenced by mediational and interaction effects to increase METs among White and African American adults. Methods: We used the Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities (ARIC) study data at the third visit from 1996-1998. Data included 8,416 Whites and 2,061 African Americans aged 41-71y with 1,484 and 517 cases of METs, respectively. METs was defined according to the International Diabetes Federation criteria. Dietary data were obtained from the ARIC study food frequency questionnaire. The GRS was composed of eight single nucleotide polymorphisms involved in cardiovascular and lipid metabolism, known to have defects in protein binding and function. Mediational path analysis using linear-and-logistic regression was used to test simultaneous associations, and interaction using multivariate logistic regression tested relationships between the GRS, food intake, physical activity and METs. In mediational path analysis, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation, p>0.05, Comparative Factor Index, p>0.90, Tucker-Lewis Index, p>0.90, and chi-square test, p>0.05 were used to assess statistical significance. For interaction using logistic regression analysis, odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals with p Results: In multivariate logistic regression, the GRS was associated with a 22% increased risk for METs among Whites (OR=1.22; 1.03-1.44), while this association was not significant in African Americans. After adjustment for Bonferonni correction for mass significance (p Conclusion: A GRS operates through interaction with dietary factors and physical activity rather than by their mediational effects on METs among White adults.