Objective: Recent studies showed that genetic polymorphisms in the fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) were associated with obesity and dietary intake. In this study of 71 adults in Jakarta, Indonesia, we investigated FTO rs1421085 association with body mass index (BMI), macronutrient intake, and fatty acid intake. The association was evaluated using linear regression analyses assuming co-dominant, dominant, recessive, over-dominant, and additive genetic models. Results: Only individuals with the CC genotype had a considerably higher BMI (p < 0.001), which indicates a recessive genetic trait, but the incidence for this genotype is low (68 TT + TC vs. 3 CC). Individuals with the minor C allele had an estimated increase of fat intake by 3.45–4.06% across various genetic models (dominant: p < 0.010, over-dominant: p < 0.030, additive: p < 0.010). Subjects with TC/CC genotypes had increased dietary monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA; 1.14%, p = 0.046) and saturated fatty acid (SAFA; 2.06%, p = 0.023) intakes, compared to those with the TT genotype. In conclusion, our study provided evidence for the association between FTO rs1421085 risk allele with higher BMI and individual preferences for consuming more fat, MUFA, and SAFA. This study highlights the important role of FTO gene in food preference, and its influence on body weight.

Maternal nutritional status influences fetal development and long-term risk for adult non-communicable diseases. The underlying mechanisms of these long-term effects remain poorly understood. We examined whether maternal biomarkers for metabolism and inflammation during pregnancy were associated with child biomarkers in the Supplementation with Multiple Micronutrients Intervention Trial (SUMMIT, ISRCTN34151616 ) in Lombok, Indonesia wherein archived blood specimens and relevant data were available from pregnant women and their children 9-12 years after birth. Forty-four mother-child dyads comprising 132 specimens were analyzed by multiplex microbead immunoassays to quantify vitamin D-binding protein (D), adiponectin (A), retinol-binding protein 4 (R), C-reactive protein (C), and leptin (L). Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed distinct variance patterns, i.e. principal components (PC), for baseline pregnancy bp.pc1.D↓A↓R↓ and bp.pc2.C↓L↑; combined follow-up and post-partum dp-pp.pc1.D↑↓A↑R↑↓L↓ and dp-pp.pc2.A↑C↑L↑; and children ch.pc1.D↑R↑C↑ and ch.pc2.D↓A↑L↑. Maternal multiple micronutrient (MMN) supplementation modified the association between baseline maternal bp.pc2.C↓L↑ and post-supplementation maternal dp-pp.pc2.A↓C↑L↑ ( p =0.022). Significant associations were found between maternal dp-pp.pc2.A↑C↑L↑ and increased child ‘s ch.pc1.D↑R↑C↑ ( p =0.036), and decreased child ‘s BMI z-score (BMIZ) ( p =0.022); and between maternal dp-pp.pc1.D↑↓A↑R↑↓L↑ and increased child ‘s BMIZ ( p =0.036). Child ‘s ch.pc1.D↑R↑C↑ was associated with decreased birth weight ( p =0.036), and increased child’s BMIZ ( p =0.002); and ch.pc2.D↓A↑L↑ was associated with increased child’s BMIZ ( p =0.005), decreased maternal height ( p =0.030) and girls ( p =0.002). Elevated adiponectin and leptin pattern in pregnancy was associated with increased C-reactive protein and vitamin A and D binding proteins pattern in children, suggesting biomarkers acting in concert may be more important than single biomarker effects. Patterns in pregnancy proximal to birth were more associated with child status, and child patterns were most frequently associated with child status, particularly child BMI. Although MMN supplementation and certain maternal biomarker patterns have effects on metabolism and inflammation in pregnancy and in the child, nevertheless, nutrition conditions after birth may have a greater impact.