Scientists discover unknown new gene for 'weight loss'

A new study helps shed light on the genetic pathway behind obesity
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The findings could help develop more personalized approaches to help people maintain a healthy weight

The study, the largest of its kind, looked at the genomics and metabolite levels -- the molecules that the body produces when it breaks down food
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The report reports 74 previously unknown gene regions that influence how the body breaks down food into energy

This work was supported by the Guy and St Thomas Center for Biomedical Research at the National Institutes of Health (NIHR)
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The team behind the study came from the Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology Unit, King's College London and the National Institutes of Health Biological Resource Centre

The study involved 8,809 people who joined the NIH Biological Resource Center who agreed to contact us about the research project
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The team looked at blood samples to measure levels of 722 metabolites
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These provide a snapshot of a person's well-being and the mechanisms that control key physiological processes

By analyzing these genes and whole-genome sequencing, the team identified 202 unique genomic regions whose variation was associated with the levels of 478 different metabolites
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These included 74 genomic regions not associated with any metabolites in previous studies

Senior author Dr Christina Meuni, from the Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology at King's College London, said: "These results could have many practical implications
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Human metabolism underlies many different areas of human health and disease

"Some of the metabolites we looked at were associated with BMI and could give us insight into obesity in some people
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This is just an early study, but in the future, these findings could help us find ways to maintain a healthy weight, taking into account A person's genetic characteristics

Dr Massimo Mangino, a senior bioinformatician from the Nir Guy and St Thomas Biomedical Research Centre and lead author of the study, said: "Obesity is one of the most common We still have a lot to learn about biology
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Our latest findings may help unravel some of these mysteries

Dr Piro Hessi, from the Twins Research and Genetic Epidemiology Unit, added: "This study is the largest study to date of the levels of this class of metabolites, and the results enhance our understanding of the genetic mechanisms that control human metabolism.
Awareness.
The
NIHR Bioresource is a unique UK resource that makes this possible, an amazing collaboration between doctors and researchers in the NHS
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It is because of this collaboration that large-scale research like ours is possible
.
"

Reference: "Metabolome Genome-Wide Association Study Identifies 74 Novel Genomic Regions Influencing Plasma Metabolites Levels" by Pirro G.
Hysi, Massimo Mangino, Paraskevi Christofidou, Mario Falchi, Edward D.
Karoly, NIHR Bioresource Investigators, Robert P.
Mohney, Ana M.
Valdes, Tim D.
Spector and Cristina Menni, 11 January 2022, Metabolites .

DOI: 10.
3390/metabo12010061