The present invention is based on the discovery that a -265TC polymorphism in the apolipoprotein A-II (APOA2) promoter is consistently associated with higher food consumption and dietary intake. Homozygous CC subjects have a statistically higher total energy intake as well as a preferred macronutrient intake pattern where the individuals exhibit a higher intake of fat and proteins and a lower intake of carbohydrates. Accordingly, embodiments of the invention are directed to methods of determining if an individual has an increased appetite due to a genetic alteration in APOA2 gene locus and to methods of designing personalized diets for individuals with an APOA2 allelic genetic alterations or polymorphisms. The methods involve determining the genotype of the individual for the APOA2 locus -265, wherein the presence of genotype C/C is indicative of the individual having an increased appetite due to a genetic alteration in the APOA2 locus.
展开▼
