SMAD3 and Obesity: Then we validated 7 obesity or lipid metabolism related genes (Hif1a, Spon1, H19, Adrb2, Vldlr, Zfp36, Smad3), and found that compared to CTL group, Vldlr was hypermethylated and low expressed, and Hif1α was demethylated and high expressed in the VDD group (Fig. 5).