Polymorphisms of the TUB Gene Are Associated with Body Composition and Eating Behavior in Middle-Aged Women

Background. The TUB gene, encoding an evolutionary conserved protein, is highly expressed in the hypothalamus and might act as a transcription factor. Mutations in TUB cause late-onset obesity, insulin-resistance and neurosensory deficits in mice. An association of common variants in the TUB gene with body weight in humans has been reported. Methods/Findings. The aim was to investigate the relationship of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the TUB gene (rs2272382, rs2272383 and rs1528133) with both anthropometry and self-reported macronutrient intake from a validated food frequency questionnaire. These associations were studied in a population-based, cross-sectional study of 1680 middle-aged Dutch women, using linear regression analysis. The minor allele C of the rs1528133 SNP was significantly associated with increased weight (+1.88 kg, P=0.022) and BMI (+0.56 units, P=0.05). Compared with non-carriers, both AG heterozygotes and AA homozygotes of the rs2272382 SNP derived less energy from fat (AG: -0.55 +/- 0.28%, P=0.05, AA: -0.95 +/- 0.48%, P=0.047). However, both genotypes were associated with an increased energy intake from carbohydrates (0.69 +/- 0.33%, P=0.04 and 1.68 +/- 0.56%, P=0.003, respectively), mainly because of a higher consumption of mono- and disaccharides. Both these SNPs, rs2272382 and rs1528133, were also associated with a higher glycemic load in the diet. The glycemic load was higher among those with AG and AA genotypes for the variant rs2272382 than among the wild types (+1.49 (95% CI: -0.27-3.24) and +3.89 (95% CI: 0.94-6.85) units, respectively). Carriers of the minor allele C of rs1528133 were associated with an increased glycemic load of 1.85 units compared with non-carriers. Conclusions. Genetic variation of the TUB gene was associated with both body composition and macronutrient intake, suggesting that TUB might influence eating behavior.