High protein diet effective genetically

Recent evidence suggests that the fat mass and obesity-associated gene ( FTO) genotype may interact with dietary intakes in relation to adiposity. 742 obese adults were randomly assigned to one of four diets differing in the proportions of fat, protein, and carbohydrate. 

Researchers in the recent Diabetes study found significant modification effects for intervention varying in dietary protein on 2-year changes in fat-free mass, whole body total percentage of fat mass, total adipose tissue mass, visceral adipose tissue mass, and superficial adipose tissue mass. 

Carriers of the obesity risk allele had a greater reduction in weight, body composition, and fat distribution in response to a high-protein diet, whereas an opposite genetic effect was observed on changes in fat distribution in response to a low-protein diet. Likewise, significant interaction patterns also were observed at 6 months. Our data suggest that a high-protein diet may be beneficial for weight loss and improvement of body composition and fat distribution in individuals with the risk allele of the FTO variant rs1558902.