The team analyzed the genomes and levels of 722 metabolites (molecules produced when the body breaks down food) among 8,809 people from NIHR BioResource. The way the body breaks down food is thought to be strongly motivated by a person’s genetics.
It is found that there are 202 unique genomic regions have variants associated with the levels of 478 different metabolites. Of these, 74 genomic regions were not associated with any metabolites (as demonstrated in previous works).
“Some of the metabolites we’ve looked at are related to BMI and may give us insight into obesity in some people. This is very early, but future, research. In the future, these findings may help develop methods of maintaining a healthy weight that take into account a person’s genetic profile,” Dr Cristina Menni, lead author from the Department of Twins and Genetic Epidemiology, King’s College London.
Source: Medindia
