Consumption of methyl donor nutrients and incidence of obesity: is the association influenced by parent’s obesity? Results of 4 years of follow-up of the CUME study

DNA methylation is labile to the consumption of methyl donor nutrients (MetD), and may modulate gene expression associated with obesity. To evaluate the association between MetD consumption and the incidence of obesity, as well as to test the modifying role of the effect of the family history of the disease in this association. This longitudinal study, with 1205 participants of the Cohort of Universities of Minas Gerais (CUME study), evaluated the incidence of obesity in a 4-year follow-up (2016– 2020). The intake of MetD nutrients (B2, B6, B9, B12, choline, betaine, and methionine) was estimated through a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire validated for the population. A MetD score was calculated and later stratified into low, intermediate, and high scores according to the tertiles of the sample. The presence of father and mother with obesity and parental obesity (father and mother with the disease) was self-reported. Associations were tested by Cox regression. 89 (7.4%) cases of obesity were identified during follow-up. Participants who were in the third quartile of B2 consumption and the second quartile of B9 and choline consumption presented 60% (95%CI: 0.20–0.79), 52% (95%CI: 0.26–0.89) and 52% (95%CI: 0.24–0.93) less risk of developing obesity, respectively. Presenting an intermediate MetD score was also associated with a lower risk for the outcome (HR: 0.40; 95%CI: 0.18–0.84). However, the association between high MetD score and obesity incidence was observed only among individuals with a history of the disease in the father (HR: 0.19; 95%CI: 0.03–0.98; p-interaction = 0.022). Intermediate consumption of B2, B9, and choline was associated with a lower risk of obesity, while a high MetD score was associated with reduced risk of outcome in those with a history of paternal obesity.