The Interaction of Healthy and Unhealthy Provegetarian Food Patterns with Melanocortin 4 Receptor Gene on Cardiovascular Diseases Risk Factors among Women with Overweight or Obesity

Abstract Background Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of mortality, influenced by genetics and diet. Provegetarian food patterns (PVG) and melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) gene polymorphisms are linked to CVD risk factors. This study aimed to determine the interaction of PVG with MC4R gene on CVD risk factors. Methods This study was conducted on 284 healthy overweight or obese women. Participants were assessed for PVG scores using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Anthropometric measures, body composition, biochemical assessments, DNA extraction, and blood pressure measurements were assessed using standard methods. Results There was a negative interaction between healthy PVG and CC genotype with body fat (BF) (%) (β=-0.155; 95% CI=-0.440, 0.129; P = 0.074), trunk fat (TF) (kg) (β=-0.087; 95% CI=-0.280, 0.106; P = 0.075), and TF (%) (β=-1.624; 95% CI=-5.230, 0.082; P = 0.057) and positive interaction with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (β = 0.222; 95% CI=-0.041, 0.485; P = 0.098). There was a positive interaction between unhealthy PVG and CC genotype with total cholesterol (T Chol) (β = 1.885; 95% CI=-0.178, 3.948; P = 0.073), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (β = 1.542; 95% CI = 0.114, 2.971; P = 0.034), and body mass index (BMI) (β = 0.203; 95% CI=-0.054, 0.459; P = 0.071). Conclusions CC genotypes showed significant negative interactions with hPVG on BF and TF, whereas positive interactions with uPVG on T Chol, LDL, and BMI.