120 | id == 120
120 | category_id == 15
120 | category_order == 11
120 | category_name == Diet
120 | category_color == #C47AC0
120 | slug == TFAP2B-high-protein-diet
120 | title == Are You Genetically Suited for a High-Protein Diet? (TFAP2B)
120 | meta_description == TFAP2B is an obesity-linked gene that enlarges fat cells. Can your variations prevent “yo-yo” dieting if you increase protein?
120 | summary == <p>TFAP2B is a gene that becomes active in the prenatal period and goes on to influence obesity risk and diet response later in life. Can your variations help prevent the &ldquo;yo-yo&rdquo; dieting effect if you up your protein intake--or do you require more dietary fat?</p>
120 | overall_score_text == Your High-Protein Diet Weight Maintenance Score (based on TFAP2B)
120 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/TFAP2B--Diet.jpg
120 | author_id == 5
120 | author_name == Ana Aleksic
120 | author_title == MS (Pharmacy)
120 | author_order == 20
120 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Ana.jpg
120 | author_intro == <p><strong>Ana received her MS in Pharmacy from the University of Belgrade.</strong></p>    <p>Ana has many years of experience in clinical research and health advising. She loves communicating science and empowering people to achieve their optimal health. Ana spent years working with patients who suffer from various mental health issues and chronic health problems. She is a strong advocate of integrating scientific knowledge and holistic medicine.</p>
120 | reviewer == None
120 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
120 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
120 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
120 | publish_date == 2020
120 | publish_date == 3
120 | publish_date == 19
120 | avg_rating == 5.0
120 | tags_id == 317
120 | tags_name == High-protein diet
120 | tags_id == 316
120 | tags_name == TFAP2B Gene
120 | tags_id == 115
120 | tags_name == Weight Gain
120 | tags_id == 184
120 | tags_name == Weight Loss
120 | permissions_favorite == False
120 | permissions_rate == False
120 | content_article == <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">The TFAP2B Gene</span></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The</span> <a href="../../gene/tfap2b/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TFAP2B gene</span></em></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> codes for a protein called </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">transcription factor AP-2B</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which can attach to DNA and control the activity of other genes. TFAP2B has the power to influence how cells divide and self-destruct when they are no longer needed (also known as </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">apoptosis</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">) [</span><a href="https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/TFAP2B"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although we aren&rsquo;t aware of it, this unusual protein starts to play a large part in our lives even before we are born. Research shows that TFAP2B is active in cells in the early prenatal period, affecting how the brain and other tissues and organs develop [</span><a href="https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/TFAP2B"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">More recently, the TFAP2B gene has been in the spotlight of obesity and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/nutrigenomics/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">nutrigenomics</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> research. So what do your TFAP2B variants mean and how exactly can you modify your diet based on them?</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">The TFAP2B gene is implicated in prenatal development, obesity, and dietary response.&nbsp;</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">TFAP2B, BMI &amp; Being Overweight</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Variations in the TFAP2B gene have been associated with increased weight and belly fat and type 2 diabetes. The majority of obesity and diet-related research focused on a SNP labeled </span><a href="../../snp/rs987237/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs987237</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24081236"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16954217"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><strong>Initial studies revealed a link between the G allele of rs987237 and obesity</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">. People carrying the risk allele were more likely to be overweight and to have excess belly fat [</span><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/ng.686"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The TFAP2B gene is mostly expressed in fat tissue and it is more active in people with the risk allele. Scientists think that TFAP2B overactivity might cause the body to store too much fat by inducing insulin resistance in fat cells. It also reduces </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/adiponectin/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">adiponectin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and increases </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/interleukin-6/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">interleukin-6</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (</span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/interleukin-6/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL-6</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16954217"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16954217"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/26/8/2442"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Low adiponectin levels have been linked with obesity, insulin resistance, and heart disease. IL-6 is an inflammatory cytokine. Hence, TFAP2B seems a plausible link between obesity and low-grade inflammation [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16954217"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/26/8/2442"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This gene also appears to increase the size of fat cells. Switching TFAP2B on in test tubes transformed regular cells into massive, dangerous fat cells that are characteristic of obesity [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16373417"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although more research is needed, </span><strong>it seems that keeping TFAP2B from becoming overactive might be beneficial for weight loss and general well-being</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19325541"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Certain genetic variations may over-activate the TFAP2B gene, potentially contributing to obesity and insulin resistance.&nbsp;</span></p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Do Rare TFAP2B Variations Favor Fat Over Protein?</span></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The existing studies suggest that people who carry TFAP2B risk variants tend to have extra weight, and they may be better off on a high-fat diet [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24081236"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">High-protein diets are well researched for curbing appetite and preventing weight regain. However, people with TFAP2B variations seem to be an exception: they might be more prone to the &ldquo;yo-yo&rdquo; effect with high protein intake [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24081236"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This association is still inconclusive, though, since only a couple of studies on TFAP2B and diet have been published so far.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><strong>Remember that many other genetic and non-genetic factors also influence a person&rsquo;s response to diet and their ability to lose weight.</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Dietary interventions should always be part of a holistic weight management program that takes these factors and your overall health into account.&nbsp;</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Weight Loss Based on Fat Intake</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A study of obese adults revealed an association between the more common TFAP2B rs987237 genotype and weight loss on a low-fat diet. The rare genotype was linked with weight loss on a high-fat diet [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3428346/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Both diets were energy-deficient (by 600 kcal) and the participants strictly followed them for 10 weeks.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To take a deep dive into the data by genotype:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">AA carriers lost over 2lbs (1 kg) more weight on the low-fat than on the high-fat diet</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">GG carriers (highest obesity risk) lost almost 6 lbs (2.6 kg) more weight on the high-fat diet&nbsp;</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">GA carriers were a bit less sensitive, but they still lost almost 2 lbs (0.8 kg) more on the high-fat diet</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>The authors also discovered a similar but weaker pattern for waist size reduction</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">. People with the AA genotype lost more belly fat on the low-fat diet, and vice versa [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3428346/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another study of 639 obese people found a similar but insignificant trend. Participants in this study dieted for only 8 weeks and were not closely monitored, which might explain the weaker effect [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3428346/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">People with obesity-linked TFAP2B rs987237 variations (GG and AG) are likely to lose more weight on high-fat diets. The opposite seems to be the case for obese AA carriers.</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Will You </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Regain </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Weight on Protein or Fat?</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Preventing weight regain--the infamous &ldquo;yo-yo&rdquo; effect--might be even more important than losing extra weight in the first place. Maintaining healthy weight and good nutrition is key to fighting obesity and other chronic health problems in the long run [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5764193/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">People often describe this maintenance step as more challenging than initial weight loss. It&rsquo;s not just about &ldquo;sticking to it&rdquo; and having psychological support. The body actually mounts a response when you lose weight, activating various feedback loops you have to overcome. In turn, your hormones change, your appetite increases, and you feel less satiated [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5764193/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And as it turns out, </span><strong>people may have completely opposite weight regain reactions to high fat vs. high-protein diets based on TFAP2B variations</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24081236"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a study of 468 people, high-protein diets were beneficial for weight maintenance in the &ldquo;non-risk&rdquo; AA&nbsp; rs987237 genotype group.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><strong>Carriers of the obesity risk allele (G allele) regained 4 lbs more body weight per risk allele on the high-protein diet compared to the low-protein diet</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">. In other words, people with the GG genotype regained 8 lbs more when their protein intake was high.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">High-protein diets may be a good weight-maintenance strategy for most people. People with obesity-linked rs987237 variations may be better suited for lower protein intake.&nbsp;</span></p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Your TFAP2B Results for High-Protein Diet Suitability</span></h2> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">SNP Summary and Table</span></h3> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">You can see your genotypes for TFAP2B in the table below. However, keep in mind that these associations are based on studies from certain ethnic populations &mdash; so you should interpret your results with caution if you are not descended from one of these specific groups!</span></em></p> <p>*7795117907716609*</p> <p><strong>Primary SNP: TFAP2B </strong><a href="../../snp/rs987237/"><strong>rs987237</strong></a><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Greater weight loss on lower-fat diets, better weight maintenance on a high-protein diet; less prone to obesity.&nbsp;</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Greater weight loss on higher-fat diets, better weight maintenance on a low-protein diet; more likely to be obese.&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Population Frequency</span></h3> <p><strong>Around 68% of people worldwide carry the high-protein-suited, &ldquo;non-obesity&rdquo; AA variant of rs987237</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">; the rest are mostly AG (28%), while about 4% carry two risk alleles (GG).&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The situation flips in Latin Americans, of which only 45% are AA. Let&rsquo;s take a closer look:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Only 31% of people of Mexican ancestry are AA. The rest carry the fat-favoring, &ldquo;obesity&rdquo; risk allele (48% are AG and a shocking 20% have the highest risk GG genotype)</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Similarly, only 30% of Peruvians are AA (52% are AG and 18% are GG)</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On the other end of the spectrum are people of African ancestry, 84% of which have the &ldquo;non-obesity&rdquo; AA variant. About 16% are AG; the highest risk, GG allele is extremely rare (under 1%).</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The rest are somewhere in-between: 67% of Europeans are AA, while 73% of East Asians and 59% of South Asians are AA.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although the &ldquo;obesity&rdquo; G allele of rs987237 is considered the rare variant worldwide, it&rsquo;s relatively </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">more </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">common among people of South and Central American ancestry.&nbsp;</span></span></p> <p>*8876608185667789*</p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recommendations to Optimize Diet and Weight Loss</span></h2> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you are overweight and have metabolic problems, always speak with your doctor before implementing any of the following strategies. There may be unexpected interactions with your current medications or health conditions.&nbsp;</span></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">None of these recommendations should ever be used to replace any of the treatments or medications that your doctor gives you.</span></em></p> <p>*2463809572662758*</p> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">For Weight Loss</span></h4> <p><strong>The</strong> <strong>high-fat diet</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> used in a study covered in this article was &ldquo;moderate-fat&rdquo; and wouldn&rsquo;t fit keto diet standards. It better fits the Mediterranean diet since it had the following daily macronutrient breakdown:</span></p> <ul> <li><strong>40-45% fat</strong></li> </ul> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">40-45% carbohydrates</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">15% protein</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This ratio enhanced weight loss in people carrying the obesity-linked G allele of rs987237.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As the main difference, </span><strong>the low-fat diet contained 20-25% of total daily calories from fat.</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> This diet worked better for people with the AA genotype for rs987237 [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3428346/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another study used the</span><strong> low-calorie Modifast diet </strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">over 8 weeks (20% fat, 54% carbohydrates, 26% protein, 880 kcal/day). It didn&rsquo;t work well for G-allele carriers who were used to higher-fat diets. The more they had to cut down on fat, the less weight they lost.</span></p> <p><strong>Therefore, G-allele carriers would be best off getting at least moderate amounts of healthy fat in their diet</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">. They should increase monounsaturated fatty acids, such as those found in </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/olive-oil/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">olive oil</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and heart-healthy </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/top-22-science-based-health-benefits-of-fish-oil/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">omega-3</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> fatty acids that abound in wild-caught fish and seafood.</span></p> <p><strong>People with the AA genotype lose more weight with reduced fat intake, but they should still make sure to get enough healthy fats every day</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Low-fat diets are an option backed up by decent evidence for weight loss, but their effect on general well-being is less convincing [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6163457/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Talk to your doctor before trying out a low-fat diet as it&rsquo;s not recommended for most people [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10706579"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28515068"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6316552/#sec3-nutrients-10-01912title"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">For Weight Maintenance</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Typically, a high-protein diet will have the following macronutrient ratio:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">30% protein</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">30% fat</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">40% carbs</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>A high-protein diet was a better weight-maintenance choice for people with the AA rs987237 genotype</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24081236"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although some diets contain up to 65% of calories from protein, going over 35% isn&rsquo;t recommended.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On the other hand, </span><strong>low-protein diets </strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">usually contain less than 10% of total calories from protein.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p> <p><strong>A low-protein diet worked better for preventing weight regain in G-allele carriers of rs987237. </strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">People with this genotype should look to increase healthy fats and low-glycemic-index carbs like </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/what-is-resistant-starch-sources-how-to-increase-diet/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">resistant starch</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and fiber. Studies suggest that resistant starch supports energy balance, weight loss, and weight maintenance. Also, lower protein-containing junk food [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24499148"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p>
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120 | content_learn_more_8876608185667789_text == Based on the variant we looked at, your TFAP2B gene makes you slightly less suited for a high-protein diet for weight maintenance. Your variants have also been linked with obesity. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of obesity, just one gene related to it. Following a high-fat diet for weight loss and sticking to a low-protein diet for weight maintenance may help. Read on to get more gene-based tips below.
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120 | content_recommendation_2463809572662758_hidden == False
rsIDs = rs987237
rsStatus = rs987237,TFAP2B,chr6,50835337,A,G,,,34,0,Normal
