The association of dietary carbohydrate with FTO gene expression in visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue of adults without diabetes.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of dietary carbohydrates with fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) expression in visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues were gathered from 58 obese (body mass index ≥30 kg/m) and 44 non-obese (body mass index ≤18 to<30 kg/m) participants, aged ≥20 y, who had undergone elective abdominal surgery with minimal effect on dietary intake. Dietary intake was collected using a valid and reliable food frequency questionnaire, and daily intake of total carbohydrates, total sugar, sucrose, glucose, fructose, lactose, and maltose were calculated. The mRNA expression of the FTO gene in visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues was measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

No significant difference was observed for FTO gene expression in subcutaneous and visceral fat mass between non-obese and obese participants. After adjusting for age and sex, total carbohydrate intake was inversely associated with FTO gene expression in subcutaneous (β = -0.403; P = 0.003) adipose tissues among obese participants. Furthermore, higher intake of total sugars, sucrose, glucose, and lactose was inversely and higher intake fructose was directly associated with FTO mRNA expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue among participants with obesity.

CONCLUSION

Dietary intake of total sugars, sucrose, glucose, and lactose in obese participants only was inversely and dietary fructose was positively associated with FTO gene expression from the subcutaneous adipose tissue.