(P41-08-26) Adiposity Genetic Risk Is Associated With Variation in Triglyceride Response in Fresno State Students With Overweight or Obesity

Monday, July 27, 2026

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM ET

Location: Poster Board G-51

Presenting Author(s)

ZG

Zoie L. Gavel, BS

Undergraduate Researcher
California State University, Fresno
Fresno, California, United States

Co-Author(s)

SP

Shabnam Pooya, PhD

California State University, Fresno, California, United States
LH

Lisa Herzig, PhD, RDN, CDCES

California State University, Fresno, California, United States
SK

Srinivasan Konduru, PhD

California State University, Fresno, California, United States
SA

Serhat Asci, PhD

California State University, Fresno, California, United States
AF

Amir Fathi, MD, FACS

University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, California, United States
MR

Marina Roytman, MD

University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, California, United States
AR

Abbas Rad

California State University, Fresno, California, United States
PO

Paige Ounesavath

California State University, Fresno, California, United States
LB

Lorena Bernal

California State University, Fresno, California, United States
LR

Lynssey Romero

California State University, Fresno, United States
KW

Kelsie Wasem

California State University, Fresno, United States
AB

Anna Bedolla-Gutierrez

California State University, Fresno, United States

Disclosure(s):

Zoie L. Gavel, BS: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Objectives: Oxidative stress and adiposity contribute to chronic inflammation and metabolic dysfunction. Genetic variation in pathways related to antioxidant defense and adiposity regulation may influence individual metabolic profiles. This study evaluated associations between antioxidant and adiposity genetic risk scores (Antiox-GRS, Adipo-GRS), inflammatory biomarkers, and metabolic outcomes in Fresno State students with overweight or obesity.

Methods: Participants were Fresno State students (n=16) with overweight or obesity enrolled in a fruit and vegetable–focused intervention or control condition. Genetic risk scores were calculated using SNPs related to antioxidant function (SLC23A1, SLC23A2, BCO1, VDR, CYP2R1, CYP27B1) and adiposity regulation (LEP, LEPR, MC4R, FTO, PPARA, PPARD). Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and adiponectin (APN) were measured via ELISA. Exploratory analyses assessed associations between genetic risk scores and metabolic and dietary variables. Spearman correlations were used to evaluate relationships across the full sample and by group status. Linear regression models tested interactions between predictors and group status. Results were visualized using heatmaps of correlation coefficients and −log10(p) values. Findings were interpreted descriptively due to the small sample size.

Results: Higher Adipo-GRS corresponded to greater increases or smaller reductions in triglyceride levels. No consistent associations were observed between antioxidant genetic risk scores and metabolic or inflammatory biomarkers. Similarly, circulating IL-6 and APN were not significantly associated with either genetic risk score.

Conclusions: Adiposity-related genetic risk is associated with less favorable triglyceride outcomes among Fresno State students with overweight or obesity. These findings suggest a potential role for adiposity-related genetic profiles in metabolic variability and precision nutrition. However, given the small sample size and exploratory nature of the analysis, these results should be interpreted with caution.

Funding Sources: USDA Grant
American Society for Nutrition Foundation Undergraduate Diversity Research Fellowship
Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Program