Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Muscular Strength Moderates the Relationship between FNDC5 Polymorphism and Adiposity in Children and Adolescents

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 18; no. 18; p. 9797
• Main Authors: Todendi, Pâmela Ferreira, Brand, Caroline, de Castro Silveira, João Francisco, Burns, Ryan Donald, Martínez, J Alfredo, Fiegenbaum, Marilu, Reis Gaya, Anelise, Pollo Renner, Jane Dagmar, Reuter, Cézane Priscila, de Moura Valim, Andréia Rosane
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 17-09-2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Adipose tissue; Adiposity - genetics; Adolescent; Adolescents; Body mass; Body Mass Index; Body size; Cardiorespiratory Fitness; Child; Children; Cross-Sectional Studies; Ethnicity; Exercise; Fibronectins - genetics; Gender differences; Genotyping; Humans; Muscle Strength; Musculoskeletal system; Obesity; Phenotypes; Physical Fitness; Polymorphism; Questionnaires; Regression analysis; Students; Teenagers; Waist Circumference; Brazil; United States > US; genetics; adolescents; children; physical fitness; obesity
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18189797

The human locus
rs16835198 contributes positively to anthropometric phenotypes in children and adolescents. However, the role of specific components of physical fitness in this relationship is not known. The present study aimed to verify the moderator role of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and muscular strength in the relationship between rs16835198 polymorphism
and adiposity in children and adolescents. This cross-sectional study was carried out by genotyping the rs16835198
polymorphism in 1701 children and adolescents (mean age 11.73 ± 2.75 years). Obesity was assessed using waist circumference and body mass index (BMI) z-scores. To evaluate CRF and muscular strength, the 6 min run/walk test and lower limb strength (LLS) were used. Linear regression models were applied, and all analyses were adjusted for age, sex, skin color, living area, and school type. A significant interaction term for CRF (
= 0.038) and LLS (
= 0.040) × rs16835198
with WC was identified. Regarding BMI, a significant interaction term for CRF (
= 0.007) and LLS (
= 0.044) × rs16835198
was observed. Moreover, medium and high CRF and LLS levels protected against higher WC and BMI. In conclusion, adiposity levels of children and adolescents with a genetic predisposition to obesity might be modified by improving CRF and muscular strength.