weight & body fat

nutrition

LYPLAL1

Could This Puzzling Enzyme Protect Against Obesity? (LYPLAL1)

Written by Jasmine Foster, BSc, BEd on July 13th, 2020

LYPLAL1 is a mysterious protein that may affect the formation of different types of fat. What is its link to obesity and metabolic health? Find out here.

What is LYPLAL1?

LYPLAL1 encodes lysophospholipase-like protein 1 (also abbreviated LYPLAL1), which is believed to be an enzyme with some kind of metabolic function. Researchers currently aren’t sure exactly what it does, though they have a few theories based on the structure of the protein and genetic association studies [R, R, R, R].

A possible role for this protein is in liver metabolism. One study found that inhibiting LYPLAL1 in animals resulted in their livers producing more glucose, a state associated with diabetes. Differences in LYPLAL1 expression have also been linked to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) [R, R].

Another hypothesis with support is that LYPLAL1 plays a role in fat tissue production and distribution: genetic studies have found that mutations in this gene are associated with increased abdominal fat and a larger waist compared to height. What’s more, these associations hold in both animals and humans [R, R].

However, mice without LYPLAL1 are not over- or underweight and do not have any visible differences in the way they produce fat tissue. This may not be the case in humans, but so far, we have no way to tell. One possible explanation researchers have offered is that LYPLAL1 serves an overlapping function with a similar protein—and that both proteins must be mutated for an effect to be obvious [R].

LYPLAL1 is poorly understood, but researchers believe it plays a role in liver metabolism and the production of fat tissue.

How Does LYPLAL1 Affect Weight Gain?

Despite the uncertainty around its exact function and importance, LYPLAL1 has been associated with fat distribution and waist circumference. Furthermore, its expression is dependent on sex and appears to change in animals as they become obese [R, R, R].

Male and female mice express LYPLAL1 differently, with much higher expression in the fat around the testes than the uterus. When animals of either sex gain weight, LYPLAL1 expression is significantly reduced in fat around the sex organs, but increased in new fat cells. Strangely, the authors of this study found no interaction between LYPLAL1 and PPARG, a gene which is well known to affect fat distribution [R].

Human genetic association studies also suggest an effect on fat distribution. Some variants have been linked to increased or decreased abdominal fat, while others may affect the deposition of visceral vs. subcutaneous fat. Visceral fat (fat that builds up deep in the abdominal cavity, around the organs) is considered the “more harmful” type of fat, whereas subcutaneous fat (fat that builds up right underneath the skin) might actually be protective against diabetes and other conditions [R, R, R].

All of this is to say that researchers suspect that LYPLAL1 participates in the production and distribution of fat tissues, but they don’t yet know how.

LYPLAL1 appears to affect whether fat is stored as visceral fat (around the organs and potentially harmful) or subcutaneous fat (under the skin and possibly protective).

LYPLAL1 Variants & Obesity

At least three LYPLAL1 variants have been associated with weight gain and fat distribution.

The ‘G’ allele at rs2605100 has been associated with obesity and accumulation of fat in the abdomen. The ‘G’ allele at rs4846567 has been associated with increased waist circumference relative to height, another measurement of fat deposition in the abdomen. In both cases, the ‘G’ allele is the more common allele, suggesting that the uncommon variants could be somewhat protective against obesity [R].

Finally, rs11118316 appears to predict the distribution of visceral vs. subcutaneous fat. At this SNP, the ‘A’ allele is linked to increased visceral fat (potentially harmful), whereas the ‘G’ allele is linked to increased subcutaneous fat (potentially protective) [R].

Your Weight Results for LYPLAL1

SNP Table

variant	genotype	frequency	risk allele
rs2605100
rs11118316
rs4846567

SNP Summary and Table

LYPLAL1 rs2605100

‘G’ = Associated with relatively higher rates of obesity & accumulation of fat in the abdomen
‘A’ = Associated with relatively lower rates of obesity & accumulation of fat in the abdomen

LYPLAL1 rs11118316

‘G’ = Associated with relatively less visceral fat and more subcutaneous fat
‘A’ = Associated with relatively more visceral fat and less subcutaneous fat

LYPLAL1 rs4846567

‘G’ = Associated with relatively larger waist measurement compared to height
‘T’ = Associated with relatively smaller waist measurement compared to height

Recommendations

Exercise

Some limited evidence suggests that physical exercise might reduce the expression of LYPLAL1 and help reduce visceral fat mass. The best results for visceral fat mass reduction were achieved through high-intensity exercise [R, R].

High-intensity exercise is probably the best strategy to lose weight. In addition to promoting fat burning, the increased norepinephrine production may suppress food intake according to a study in rats [R].

Being active burns calories and jump-starts metabolism. Some studies suggest it also increases BDNF, which supports mental health and might cause us to eat less [R].

Exercise also increases endorphins, which activates mu-opioid receptors and also suppresses appetite [R].

Aerobic exercise (like walking, running, swimming, etc) has also been shown to cause major reductions in belly fat in multiple studies [R, R].

Although the reason is not fully understood, yoga can be a useful tool for weight loss too [R, R, R].

High-intensity exercise may reduce the expression of LYPLAL1, prevent the formation of visceral fat, and accelerate weight loss.

Fruits & Vegetables

Researchers have found a link between certain detrimental LYPLAL1 variants and lower relative abundance of Prevotella, a type of beneficial gut bacteria. People with more Prevotella in their intestines (compared to other species) tend to have less fat mass and to lose weight more easily [R, R].

Prevotella species are not readily available in probiotics. However, you can promote the growth of these beneficial bacteria by adding more plant foods to your diet: people who eat vegetarian and vegan diets tend to have more Prevotella than omnivores. More generally, the polysaccharides abundant in fruits and vegetables promote Prevotella growth [R, R].

Vegetables are rich in soluble fiber, which has been shown to cause weight loss in some studies. Fiber gets broken down by bacteria in the digestive tract to produce butyrate, which has weight loss effects in animals [R, R, R, R].

Fruits are good, too. In a study of 91 obese individuals, eating half a fresh grapefruit before meals caused weight loss of 3.5 pounds (1.6 kg) over a period of 12 weeks [R].

Polyphenols from various fruits (including blueberries and apples) led to lower weight in animal studies as well [R, R].

Prevotella bacteria have been associated with weight loss and are less abundant in the gut of people with detrimental LYPLAL1 variants. The growth of these bacteria can be promoted with a plant-rich diet.

Jasmine Foster

BSc, BEd

Jasmine received her BS from McGill University and her BEd from Vancouver Island University.

Jasmine loves helping people understand their brains and bodies, a passion that grew out of her dual background in biology and education. From the chem lab to the classroom, everyone has the right to learn and make informed decisions about their health.

Disclaimer

The information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration or any other official medical body. This information is presented for educational purposes only, and may not be used to diagnose or treat any illness or disease.

Also keep in mind that the “Risk Score” presented in this post is based only on a select number of SNPs, and therefore only represents a small portion of your total risk as an individual. Furthermore, these analyses are based primarily on associational studies, which do not necessarily imply causation. Finally, many other (non-genetic) factors can also play a significant role in the development of a disease or health condition — therefore, carrying any of the risk-associated genotypes discussed in this post does not necessarily mean you are at increased risk of developing a major health condition.

Always consult your doctor before acting on any information or recommendations discussed in this post — especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have been officially diagnosed with a medical condition.

More weight & body fat blogs

A Surprising Player in Obesity and Diabetes (PEMT) A Heat-Generating Gene Linked to Weight Gain (UCP1) Can Our Genes Make Us Fat? (FTO)

More nutrition blogs

The Role of Genes in Choline Deficiency (PEMT) A Surprising Player in Obesity and Diabetes (PEMT) A Heat-Generating Gene Linked to Weight Gain (UCP1) Can Our Genes Make Us Fat? (FTO) Can This Gene Affect Vitamin B12 Levels? (FUT2) The Role Of Amino Acids In Diet, Obesity, & Diabetes (PPM1K) How A Fat Metabolism Gene Affects Nutrition and Cognition (FADS2) The Link Between Diabetes and High-Carb Foods (TCF7L2) How An Insulin Gene Influences Diet and Blood Sugar (GIPR) Can This Fat Metabolism Gene Influence Nutrition and Cholesterol? (FADS1)

Content

What is LYPLAL1? How Does LYPLAL1 Affect Weight Gain? LYPLAL1 Variants & Obesity Your Weight Results for LYPLAL1

Unlock Personalized Results And So Much More!

Shipping Worldwide

30-Days Money-Back Guarantee*

HSA/FSA Eligible

Essential Bundle

SelfDecode DNA Kit

24/7 AI Health Coach
1250+ Comprehensive DNA Health Reports
Personalized Diet, Supplement, & Lifestyle Recommendations
Lifestyle Risk Assessments
Unlimited access to Labs Analyzer

$418

$376

Men's Health Month 10% Off

Essential

Bundle

Everything in essential
SelfDecode DNA Kit
Methylation Pathway
+130 Medical Reports
25+ Longevity Screener Risk Assessments

Odds ratios to evaluate your risk for 25+ medical conditions
10-year risk scores to prioritize health conditions
Lifetime risk scores to plan for long-term health

$667

$566

Men's Health Month 15% Off

Men's Health Month 30% Off

Ultimate Bundle

Everything in essential+
SelfDecode DNA Kit
Medication Check (PGx testing) for 50+ medications
40+ Family Planning (Carrier Status) Reports
Ancestry Percentages
Mitochondrial Ancestry

$894

$625

* SelfDecode DNA kits are non-refundable. If you choose to cancel your plan within 30 days you will not be refunded the cost of the kit.

We will never share your data

We follow HIPAA and GDPR policies

We have World-Class Encryption & Security

People Love Us

Rated 4.7/5 from 750+ reviews

People Trust Us

200,000+ users, 2,000+ doctors & 80+ businesses

SelfDecode is a personalized health report service, which enables users to obtain detailed information and reports based on their genome. SelfDecode strongly encourages those who use our service to consult and work with an experienced healthcare provider as our services are not to replace the relationship with a licensed doctor or regular medical screenings.

Policies

About

Support
Our Team
Affiliate Program
Privacy
Media