Starch Digestion-Related Amylase Genetic Variants, Diet, and Changes in Adiposity: Analyses in Prospective Cohort Studies and a Randomized Dietary Intervention

Salivary amylase, encoded by the <i>AMY1</i> gene, is responsible for the digestion of carbohydrates. We investigated associations of the <i>AMY1</i> genetic variations with general and central adiposity changes considering dietary carbohydrate intake among 32054 adults from 4 prospective cohort studies. A genetic risk score (GRS) was calculated based on nine <i>AMY1</i> single-nucleotide polymorphisms, with higher AMY1-GRS indicating higher activity of salivary amylase. We meta-analyzed interactions between AMY1-GRS and dietary intake for changes in general and central adiposity over 5.5–10 years. We found that carbohydrate food intake significantly altered associations of <i>AMY1</i>-GRS with changes in body mass index (<i>P<sub>interaction</sub></i>=0.001) and waist circumference (<i>P<sub>interaction</sub></i> <0.001). Results were consistent and significant in female cohorts rather than in male cohorts. Among women, higher AMY1-GRS was associated with more increases in adiposity if dietary carbohydrate food intake was high, while higher AMY1-GRS was associated with less gains in adiposity when the dietary intake was low. Also, in a 2-year randomized dietary intervention trial, associations of <i>AMY1</i>-GRS with changes in weight (<i>P<sub>interaction</sub></i>=0.023) and waist circumference (<i>P<sub>interaction</sub></i><sub>=</sub>0.037) were significantly modified by carbohydrate intake. Our results suggest the importance of precision nutrition strategies considering participants’ genetic adaptation to carbohydrate-rich diets in regulating general and central adiposity.