A randomized clinical trial of a dietary intervention and mental health associations in adults with increased genetic risk for obesity

Nutrigenetic parameters influence quality of life (QoL) by highlighting how genetic variations affect weight management and allow for personalized dietary recommendations that enhance health status. The present study investigates the effect of a dietary intervention on the SF-12 physical (SF-PCS-12) and mental components (SF-MCS-12) of adults with overweight and obesity, at high genetic risk for increased Body Mass Index (BMI). Data from 80 participants were analyzed, all of whom were randomized at baseline to follow either a high-protein or high-carbohydrate hypocaloric diet for three months. QoL was measured using the SF-12 questionnaire, with self-reported assessments conducted at baseline and at the end of each intervention month. Differences pre- and post- intervention were assessed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Additionally, 10 BMI-related variants were investigated for potential effects on the observed differences in SF-PCS-12 and SF-MCS-12, via linear regressions using the Plink software. Overall, no statistically significant differences were observed in SF-PCS-12 and SF-MCS-12 scores post-intervention. However, while SF-PCS-12 showed less improvement in high-risk individuals, participants with high-BMI risk alleles demonstrated a notable increase in SF-MCS-12 scores. This finding suggests that dietary interventions may positively impact mental health, even in individuals with a heightened genetic risk for obesity.