The effect of diet on genetic regulation in humans remains largely
unexplored. Here, we investigate gene-diet interactions in a unique
group of healthy individuals (N = 200) who alternate between omnivory
and dietary restriction of animal products for religious reasons. Using
longitudinal proteomic and genotype data, we identify diet-responsive
cis-pQTLs and highlight regulatory effects on LBR and MSRA, proteins
involved in cholesterol and methionine metabolism respectively.
LBR-associated cis-pQTL rs74148404 colocalizes with obesity exclusively
under dietary restriction, suggesting diet-dependent modulation of
genetic risk. We also show that a diet-dependent cis-pQTL for metabolic
regulator FGF21 colocalizes with eosinophil and platelet traits pointing
to diet-sensitive immunometabolic signalling. By parallel profiling of a
continuously omnivorous control group (N = 211), we uncover seasonally
dynamic genetic regulation for proteins linked to apoptosis in immune
system pathways (MAVS, CASP3, PDLIM7, IL12RB1), effects likely masked by
animal product restriction. These findings reveal dynamic diet- and
season-sensitive regulatory mechanisms with implications for precision
nutrition and individualized disease prevention strategies, and
underscore the need to integrate environmental context into genetic
studies of health and disease.