Relation of the rs9939609 gene variant in FTO with metabolic syndrome in obese female patients

Objectives: Common polymorphisms of the fat mass and obesity associated gene (FTO) have been linked to obesity and diabetes mellitus type 2 in some populations. The aim of our study was to analyze the relationship of the rs9939609 FTO gene polymorphism with metabolic syndrome and its components. Material and Methods: A population of 457 obese Caucasian females was analyzed in a cross-sectional survey. To estimate the prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome, the definitions of the ATPIII were considered. Genotype of FTO gene polymorphism (rs9939609) was studied. Results: One hundred and thirty patients (28.4%) had the genotype TT (wild group), whereas 227 patients (49.7%) had the genotype TA and 100 patients (21.9%) had the genotype AA. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) with ATP III definition was 40.7% (186 patients) and 59.3% patients had no MS (n =271). Prevalence of mutant FTO genotypes was similar in patients with metabolic syndrome (27.4% wild genotype and 72.6% mutant genotype) and without metabolic syndrome (29.2% wild genotype and 70.8% mutant genotype).Odds ratio of metabolic syndrome in wild vs mutant genotype was 1.04 (95% CI: 0.87-1.22). Insulin levels (13.9 +/- 6.3 mUI/L vs. 12.6 +/- 3.4 mUI/L; p<0.05), HOMA-R (3.3 +/- 1.6 vs. 2.8 +/- 1.4; p<0.05) and triglycerides concentrations (110.8 +/- 27.3 mg/dl vs. 103.1 +/- 47.3 mg/dl; p<0.05) were lower in the mutant type group than the wild type group in patients without metabolic syndrome. Conclusion: The FTO gene polymorphism (rs9939609) was found to be associated with increased insulin resistance, insulin and triglyceride levels in obese females with TT variant and without metabolic syndrome. MS or its components were not associated with this polymorphism in obese females. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.