Game-Changing Research from Singapore!

Researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have made groundbreaking discoveries showing how diet and exercise can dramatically alter gene regulation in the skeletal muscles of East Asians. This pivotal study, featured in the prestigious Journal Cell Genomics, emphasizes the crucial interaction between our genes and lifestyle choices (G x L) in shaping metabolic health.

The Gap in Genetic Research

While previous animal studies and human research suggested that lifestyle impacts gene expression, comprehensive tracking of these changes over time, especially in Asian populations, has been rare. This is concerning, given that Asians tend to face metabolic diseases even at lower BMI thresholds. Current genomic databases largely reflect European populations, leading to a significant oversight of Asian health dynamics.

A Diverse Team for a Groundbreaking Study

A multidisciplinary team, including clinical psychologists, metabolic specialists, and bioinformaticians, collaborated to conduct this extensive research. Headed by Assistant Professor Boxiang Liu and Dr. Mei Hui Liu from NUS, they spent nearly three years meticulously forming a lifestyle intervention cohort, the Singapore Adult Metabolism Study—Phase 2 (SAMS2).

Transformative Lifestyle Intervention

The study initially engaged 265 overweight or obese East Asian adults in a rigorous 16-week program that combined supervised exercise and nutritional changes. Following thorough screening, 54 participants provided skeletal muscle biopsies before and after the intervention.

Unveiling Genetic Insights