Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 3 — Observational / field trialPeer-reviewed

Epigenome-wide association study of body mass index, and the adverse outcomes of adiposity

Simone Wahl, Alexander Drong, Benjamin Lehne, Marie Loh, William R. Scott, Sonja Kunze, Pei-Chien Tsai, Janina S. Ried, Weihua Zhang, Youwen Yang, Sili Tan, Giovanni Fiorito, Lude Franke, Simonetta Guarrera, Silva Kasela, Jennifer Kriebel, Rebecca C. Richmond, Marco Adamo, Uzma Afzal, Mika Ala‐Korpela, Benedetta Albetti, Ole Ammerpohl, Jane F. Apperley, Marian Beekman, Pier Alberto Bertazzi, S. Lucas Black, Christine Blancher, Marc Jan Bonder, Mario Brosch, Maren Carstensen‐Kirberg, Anton J. M. de Craen, Simon de Lusignan, Abbas Dehghan, Mohamed Elkalaawy, Krista Fischer, Oscar H. Franco, Tom R. Gaunt, Jochen Hampe, Majid Hashemi, Aaron Isaacs, Andrew Jenkinson, Sujeet Jha, Norihiro Kato, Vittorio Krogh, Michael Laffan, Christa Meisinger, Thomas Meitinger, Zuan Yu Mok, Valeria Motta, Hong Kiat Ng, Zacharoula Nikolakopoulou, Georgios Nteliopoulos, Salvatore Panico, Natalia Pervjakova, Holger Prokisch, Wolfgang Rathmann, Michael Roden, Federica Rota, Michelle Ann Rozario, Johanna K. Sandling, Clemens Schafmayer, Katharina Schramm, Reiner Siebert, P. Eline Slagboom, Pasi Soininen, Lisette Stolk, Konstantin Strauch, E Shyong Tai, Letizia Tarantini, Barbara Thorand, Ettje F. Tigchelaar, ­Rosario ­Tumino, André G. Uitterlinden, Cornelia M. van Duijn, Joyce B. J. van Meurs, Paolo Vineis, Ananda R. Wickremasinghe, Cisca Wijmenga, Tsun-Po Yang, Wei Yuan, Alexandra Zhernakova, Rachel L. Batterham, George Davey Smith, Panos Deloukas, Bastiaan T. Heijmans, Christian Herder, Albert Hofman, Cecilia M. Lindgren, Lili Milani, Pim van der Harst, Annette Peters, Thomas Illig, Caroline L. Relton, Mélanie Waldenberger, Marjo‐Riitta Järvelin, Valentina Bollati, Richie Soong, Tim D. Spector, James Scott, Mark I. McCarthy

Nature · 2016

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Summary

This epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) leveraged multiple large cohorts to identify DNA methylation sites associated with body mass index and investigate their relationship to obesity-related disease outcomes. As suggested by the title and journal scope, the research examined whether methylation markers could illuminate molecular pathways linking adiposity to adverse metabolic and cardiovascular sequelae. The findings contribute to understanding the epigenetic architecture of obesity and may inform future biomarker development and mechanistic research.

UK applicability

The study's multi-national cohort design (including UK-based samples such as TwinsUK) provides direct applicability to understanding obesity genetics and epigenetics in UK populations. Findings may support development of UK public health tools for identifying individuals at higher epigenetic risk of obesity-related disease, though translation to clinical practice or policy requires further validation.

Key measures

DNA methylation sites (CpG positions); body mass index; adiposity-related phenotypes and disease outcomes

Outcomes reported

The study identified DNA methylation sites associated with body mass index and investigated their relationship to adiposity-related adverse health outcomes. The research examined epigenome-wide associations across multiple cohorts to understand molecular mechanisms linking obesity to metabolic disease.

Theme
Nutrition & health
Subject
Measurement methods & nutrient profiling
Study type
Research
Study design
Observational cohort
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
International
System type
Human clinical
DOI
10.1038/nature20784
Catalogue ID
BFmou2mfu8-k317fp

Topic tags

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