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We investigated the role of the fat mass and obesity associated gene (FTO) and variants near the melanocortin-4 receptor gene (MC4R) in modulating habitual intake of total energy and macronutrients, glycemic index, glycemic load, dietary energy density, and energy from 20 food groups in adults. In a population-based sample of 756 healthy adult twin pairs, we studied associations between FTO rs9939609, near-MC4R rs12970134, rs17700633, and rs17782313 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and habitual dietary intake. Habitual dietary intake was assessed by a 247-question FFQ. Nontransformed variables and variables transformed by natural logarithm were analyzed by linear regression and dichotomized variables were analyzed by logistic regression. FTO SNP rs9939609 was not associated with habitual dietary intake. For the near-MC4R SNP rs12970134 and rs17700633, we found significant positive associations with intake of energy from whole grains (P [greater than or equal to] 0.04). These associations did not remain significant after controlling for multiple testing. The outcome of this study indicates that polymorphisms in the FTO gene and near the MC4R gene do not have a role in regulating food intake and preference for specific food items. doi: 10.3945/jn.109.114439

The article discusses a study on the genetic influences on obesity-related traits and serum leptin level in adults. The researchers carried out detailed anthropometry and measurement of serum leptin level in 625 Danish, adult, healthy, monozygotic and same-sex dizygotic twin pairs of both genders. The findings of the study suggest the importance of distinguishing between the different phenotypes in the search for genes involved in the development of obesity.