Dudley Lamming, PhD, explains how sex and strain type are highly important factors in observing responses to dietary interventions in mice.

Despite evidence that sex and genetic background are key factors in the response to diet, most studies of how diet regulates metabolic health and even longevity in mice examine only a single strain and sex.

Using multiple strains and both male and female mice, Dr Lamming's team has found that improvements in metabolic health and in longevity in response to reduced levels of protein or specific amino acids strongly depend on sex and strain. While some phenotypes were conserved across strains and sexes, including increased glucose tolerance and energy expenditure, they observed high variability in adiposity, insulin sensitivity, and circulating hormones. Using a multi-omics approach, they identified mega-clusters of differentially expressed hepatic genes, metabolites, and lipids associated with each phenotype, gaining new insight into role of the energy balance hormone FG21 in the response to protein restriction.

In this webinar, Dr Lamming showcases the importance of sex and genetic background in the response to diets with different levels of macronutrients, and suggests the need for a personalized medicine approach to dietary interventions.