Interaction of genetic risk score (GRS) and Plant-Based diet on atherogenic factors and body fat distribution indices among women with overweight and obesity: a cross-sectional study

Authors

Mahya Mehri Hajmir, Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C, USA.
Atieh Mirzababaei, Chronic Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. ati_babaee@yahoo.com.
Faezeh Abaj, Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton, Australia.
Yasaman Aali, Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Mahsa Samadi, Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran.
Khadijeh Mirzaei, Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran. mirzaei_kh@sina.tums.ac.ir.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

7-8-2025

Journal

Scientific reports

Volume

15

Issue

1

DOI

10.1038/s41598-025-09726-0

Keywords

A body shape index; Atherogenic index of plasma; Body adiposity indices; Body roundness index; Lipid accumulation product; Plant dietary index

Abstract

The association between plant-based diets, obesity, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and genetic predisposition is still not fully understood. This study explored how plant-based diets interact with genetic susceptibility to atherosclerosis and body fat in 377 Iranian women aged 18 to 48 who were overweight or obese. Using a validated 147-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), we established three plant-based diet indices: the Plant-Based Diet Index (PDI), the Healthy Plant-Based Diet Index (hPDI), and the Unhealthy Plant-Based Diet Index (uPDI). We calculated a Genetic Risk Score (GRS) based on three body mass index (BMI)-related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and analyzed its interaction with the PDI. Results showed that tertile 2 of the PDI had a significant negative interaction with moderate and high-risk alleles on key atherogenic factors, including the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), triglyceride glucose (TyG), lipid accumulation product (LAP), and visceral adiposity index (VAI) (P < 0.05). A borderline negative interaction between tertile 2 of the hPDI and moderate risk alleles regarding the Body Shape Index (ABSI) was also observed (P = 0.05). Conversely, tertile 2 of the uPDI had a significant positive interaction with moderate risk alleles related to both the Castelli Risk Index I (CRI.I) and II (CRI.II) (P = 0.03). This study suggests that interactions between genetic susceptibility and plant-based diet indices are linked to atherogenic factors and body composition.

APA Citation

Hajmir, Mahya Mehri; Mirzababaei, Atieh; Abaj, Faezeh; Aali, Yasaman; Samadi, Mahsa; and Mirzaei, Khadijeh, "Interaction of genetic risk score (GRS) and Plant-Based diet on atherogenic factors and body fat distribution indices among women with overweight and obesity: a cross-sectional study" (2025). GW Authored Works. Paper 7631.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/7631

Department

Exercise and Nutrition Sciences