Genetic Modulation of Lipid Profiles following Lifestyle Modification or Metformin Treatment: The Diabetes Prevention Program

Weight-loss interventions generally improve lipid profiles and reduce cardiovascular disease risk, but effects are variable and may depend on genetic factors. We performed a genetic association analysis of data from 2,993 participants in the Diabetes Prevention Program to test the hypotheses that a genetic risk score (GRS) based on deleterious alleles at 32 lipid-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms modifies the effects of lifestyle and/or metformin interventions on lipid levels and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) lipoprotein subfraction size and number. Twenty-three loci previously associated with fasting LDL-C, HDL-C, or triglycerides replicated (P = 0.04-1x10(-17)). Except for total HDL particles (r = -0.03, P = 0.26), all components of the lipid profile correlated with the GRS (partial |r| = 0.07-0.17, P=5x10(-5)-1x10(-19)). The GRS was associated with higher baseline-adjusted 1-year LDL cholesterol levels (beta = +0.87, SEE +/- 0.22 mg/dl/allele, P=8x10(-5), P-interaction = 0.02) in the lifestyle intervention group, but not in the placebo (beta = +0.20, SEE +/- 0.22 mg/dl/allele, P = 0.35) or metformin (beta = -0.03, SEE +/- 0.22 mg/dl/allele, P = 0.90; P-interaction = 0.64) groups. Similarly, a higher GRS predicted a greater number of baseline-adjusted small LDL particles at 1 year in the lifestyle intervention arm (beta = +0.30, SEE +/- 0.012 ln nmol/L/allele, P = 0.01, P-interaction = 0.01) but not in the placebo (beta = 20.002, SEE +/- 0.008 ln nmol/L/allele, P = 0.74) or metformin (beta = +0.013, SEE +/- 0.008 nmol/L/allele, P = 0.12; P-interaction = 0.24) groups. Our findings suggest that a high genetic burden confers an adverse lipid profile and predicts attenuated response in LDL-C levels and small LDL particle number to dietary and physical activity interventions aimed at weight loss.