Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in CD36 Are Associated with Macular Pigment among Children

Ruyu Liu; Bridget A Hannon; Katie N Robinson; Lauren B Raine; Billy R Hammond; Lisa M Renzi-Hammond; Neal J Cohen; Arthur F Kramer; Charles H Hillman; Margarita Teran-Garcia; Naiman A Khan

doi:10.1093/jn/nxab153

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in CD36 Are Associated with Macular Pigment among Children

J Nutr. 2021 Sep 4;151(9):2533-2540. doi: 10.1093/jn/nxab153.

Authors

Ruyu Liu¹, Bridget A Hannon¹, Katie N Robinson¹, Lauren B Raine², Billy R Hammond³, Lisa M Renzi-Hammond^{3

4}, Neal J Cohen^{5

6

7}, Arthur F Kramer^{2

6}, Charles H Hillman^{2

8}, Margarita Teran-Garcia^{1

9}, Naiman A Khan^{1

10}

Affiliations

¹ Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
² Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
³ Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
⁴ College of Public Health, Institute of Gerontology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
⁵ Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
⁶ Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
⁷ Center for Nutrition, Learning, and Memory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
⁸ Department of Physical Therapy, Movement, & Rehabilitation Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
⁹ Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
¹⁰ Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.

Abstract

Background: High macular pigment optical density (MPOD) has been associated with improved eye health and better cognitive functions. Genetic variations have been associated with MPOD in adults. However, these associations between genetic variations and MPOD have not been studied in children.

Objectives: This was a secondary analysis of the FK2 (Fitness Improves Thinking in Kids 2) trial (n = 134, 41% male). The aim was to determine differences in MPOD among children (aged 7-9 y) based on genetic variants that either are biologically relevant to lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) accumulation or have been associated with MPOD in adults.

Methods: MPOD was measured using customized heterochromatic flicker photometry via a macular densitometer. DXA was used to assess whole-body and visceral adiposity. DNA was extracted from saliva samples and was genotyped for 26 hypothesis-driven single nucleotide polymorphisms and 75 ancestry-informative markers (AIMs). Habitual diet history was obtained via 3-d food logs completed by parents (n = 88). General linear models were used to compare MPOD between different genotypes. Principal component analysis was performed for the AIMs to account for ethnic heterogeneity.

Results: Children carrying ≥1 minor allele on β-carotene-15,15'-monooxygenase (BCO1)-rs7501331 (T allele) (P = 0.045), cluster of differentiation 36(CD36)-rs1527483 (T allele) (P = 0.038), or CD36-rs3173798 (C allele) (P = 0.001) had significantly lower MPOD (range: 14.1%-26.4%) than those who were homozygotes for the major alleles. MPOD differences based on CD36-rs3173798 genotypes persisted after adjustment for dietary L and Z intake.

Conclusions: The findings indicate that genetic variations of CD36 and BCO1 contribute to MPOD in children. The influence of genetic variation in CD36-rs3173798 persisted after adjusting for variation in dietary intake.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01619826.

Keywords: carotenoids; lutein; macular pigment optical density; nutrigenetics; pediatric; zeaxanthin.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Adult
Child
Diet
Female
Humans
Lutein
Macular Pigment* / genetics
Male
Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
Zeaxanthins

Substances

Macular Pigment
Zeaxanthins
Lutein

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01619826

Grants and funding

R01 HD069381/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States