Does the MC4R rs17782313 gene polymorphism affect the rate of exercise-induced fat oxidation?

No significant differences were found between MC4R rs17782313 genotype groups in respiratory quotient, fat oxidation percentage, or carbohydrate oxidation percentage during moderate-intensity exercise.

• Forty-eight healthy sedentary men aged 20-30 years were included in the study.
• Participants were grouped as C-allele carriers (risk allele) and TT homozygotes.
• All comparisons of RQ, fat oxidation percentage, and carbohydrate oxidation percentage yielded p > 0.05.
• Substrate oxidation was assessed via respiratory gas analysis during a graded exercise test measuring VO2 and RQ.

C-allele carriers of the MC4R rs17782313 polymorphism exhibited significantly higher BMI values compared to TT homozygotes.

• The difference in BMI between C-allele carriers and TT homozygotes was statistically significant (p < 0.05).
• This finding indicates that the MC4R rs17782313 variant is associated with increased adiposity.
• Participants were healthy sedentary men aged 20-30 years, with a total sample size of 48.

The MC4R rs17782313 polymorphism does not appear to impair metabolic flexibility or acute substrate utilization during exercise.

• Despite higher BMI in C-allele carriers, no genotype-based differences in fat or carbohydrate oxidation rates were detected during exercise.
• The authors conclude that the variant's contribution to obesity risk may be primarily mediated by behavioral and neuroendocrine mechanisms influencing energy intake.
• VO2, RQ, and substrate oxidation rates were all assessed during the graded exercise test with respiratory gas analysis.