HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by van den Bree, M. B. Articles by Dwyer, J. T Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by van den Bree, M. B. Articles by Dwyer, J. T Agricola Articles by van den Bree, M. B. Articles by Dwyer, J. T

Genetic and environmental influences on eating patterns of twins aged 50 y^1,2,3,4

¹ From the Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, and the Tufts University Schools of Medicine and Nutrition, Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University and Frances Stern Nutrition Center, New England Medical Center, Boston.

Background: Clinicians and researchers could benefit from a greater understanding of the role of genetic and environmental factors in human eating behavior.

Objective: Our aim was to estimate the relative influence of genetic and environmental factors on habitual eating patterns in middle-aged and elderly men and women.

Design: Male and female twins (n = 4640) aged 50 y completed a mailed version of the National Cancer Institute food-frequency questionnaire. Factor analysis was performed to identify eating patterns among respondents. Estimates of genetic, common environmental (shared by family members), and specific environmental (unique to an individual) influences were obtained for food use, serving size, and consumption frequency by comparing monozygotic and dizygotic twin-pair groups with structural equation analysis.

Results: Two independent eating patterns were identified: the first consisted of items high in fat, salt, and sugar, and the second reflected healthful eating habits. Although the influence of environmental factors was larger, between 15% and 38% of the total variation in pattern 1 and between 33% and 40% in pattern 2 were explained by genetic influences. Models accounting for sex differences in genetic and environmental estimates fit the data significantly better for food use and serving size of foods in eating pattern 1 and for food use in eating pattern 2.

Conclusion: Although 60–85% of the variability in eating patterns was associated with environmental factors, genetic influences were also apparent and there was some evidence of sex specificity. These findings may be important in crafting dietary interventions and predicting adherence to these interventions.

Key Words: Twins • semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire • eating patterns • genetic influences • environmental influences • sex • eating behavior

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Keskitalo, H. Tuorila, T. D Spector, L. F Cherkas, A. Knaapila, J. Kaprio, K. Silventoinen, and M. Perola The Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire, body mass index, and responses to sweet and salty fatty foods: a twin study of genetic and environmental associations Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, August 1, 2008; 88(2): 263 - 271. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. S Faith, S. A. Rhea, R. P Corley, and J. K Hewitt Genetic and shared environmental influences on children's 24-h food and beverage intake: sex differences at age 7 y Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, April 1, 2008; 87(4): 903 - 911. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Keskitalo, H. Tuorila, T. D Spector, L. F Cherkas, A. Knaapila, K. Silventoinen, and M. Perola Same genetic components underlie different measures of sweet taste preference Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, December 1, 2007; 86(6): 1663 - 1669. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. de Krom, Y. T. van der Schouw, J. Hendriks, R. A. Ophoff, C. H. van Gils, R. P. Stolk, D. E. Grobbee, and R. Adan Common Genetic Variations in CCK, Leptin, and Leptin Receptor Genes Are Associated With Specific Human Eating Patterns Diabetes, January 1, 2007; 56(1): 276 - 280. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Tholin, F. Rasmussen, P. Tynelius, and J. Karlsson Genetic and environmental influences on eating behavior: the Swedish Young Male Twins Study Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, March 1, 2005; 81(3): 564 - 569. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Cai, S. A Cole, R. A Bastarrachea-Sosa, J. W MacCluer, J. Blangero, and A. G Comuzzie Quantitative trait locus determining dietary macronutrient intakes is located on human chromosome 2p22 Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, November 1, 2004; 80(5): 1410 - 1414. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]