Fat mass obesity-associated (FTO) (rs9939609) and melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) (rs17782313) SNP are positively associated with obesity and blood pressure in Mexican school-aged children

Abstract

Childhood overweight and obesity are worldwide public health problems and risk factors for chronic diseases. The presence of SNP in several genes has been associated with the presence of obesity. A total of 580 children (8-13 years old) from Queretaro, Mexico, participated in this cross-sectional study, which evaluated the associations of rs9939609 (fat mass obesity-associated (FTO)), rs17782313 (melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R)) and rs6548238 (transmembrane protein 18 (TMEM18)) SNP with obesity and metabolic risk factors. Overweight and obesity prevalence was 19·8 and 19·1 %, respectively. FTO, MC4R and TMEM18 risk allele frequency was 17, 9·8 and 89·5 %, respectively. A significant association between FTO homozygous and MC4R heterozygous risk alleles and obesity was found (OR 3·9; 95 % CI 1·46, 10·22, and OR 2·1; 95 % CI 1·22, 3·71; respectively). The FTO heterozygous subjects showed higher systolic and diastolic blood pressures, compared with the homozygous for the ancestral allele subjects. These results remain significant after considering adiposity as a covariate. The FTO and MC4R genotypes were not significantly associated with total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and insulin concentration. No association was found between TMEM18 risk allele and obesity and/or metabolic alterations. Our results show that, in addition to a higher BMI, there is also an association of the risk genotype with blood pressure in the presence of the FTO risk genotype. The possible presence of a risk genotype in obese children must be considered to offer a more comprehensive therapeutic approach in order to delay and/or prevent the development of chronic diseases.

New Insights Regarding Genetic Aspects of Childhood Obesity: A Minireview

“…A recent study underlined a strong effect of MC4R rs17782313 on body size and fat distribution, proving that the C/C genotype is associated with higher BMI ( 66 ). Another study that assessed the same polymorphism of MC4R gene highlighted a significant association with obesity in Mexican children ( 67 ). In addition, the authors also identified that both MC4R and FTO risk genotypes increase the metabolic risk in children with obesity ( 67 ).…”

“…Another study that assessed the same polymorphism of MC4R gene highlighted a significant association with obesity in Mexican children ( 67 ). In addition, the authors also identified that both MC4R and FTO risk genotypes increase the metabolic risk in children with obesity ( 67 ). The same findings were also identified in Greek children and adolescents with obesity, but the study failed to show an association with the metabolic profile of these children ( 60 ).…”

Association between rs1421085 and rs9939609 Polymorphisms of Fat Mass and Obesity-Associated Gene with High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Triglyceride in Obese Turkish Children and Adolescents

“…44 In a study involving 580 children in Mexico, a positive relationship was found between blood pressure and rs9939609, rs17782313, while no significant correlation was found between total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol. 45 On the contrary, another research reported a significant association between rs9939609 (FTO) allele of risk and increased cholesterol concentrations among adult obese individuals. 46 In our study, we identified that the FTO gene rs9939609 and rs1421085 polymorphism regions were statistically significant in obese patients, and these polymorphism regions were significantly associated with HDL cholesterol and triglyceride.…”

Interaction of MC4R rs17782313 variants and dietary carbohydrate quantity and quality on basal metabolic rate and general and central obesity in overweight/obese women: a cross-sectional study

“…The MC4R is a fundamental regulator of energy balance via functionally divergent central melanocortin neuronal pathways, affecting energy expenditure and food intake (48). Rs17782313 is shown to be signi cantly related to visceral fat accumulation, WC, and BMI so that each additional C allele of rs17782313 displayed an elevated weight by 2.45 kg (49). Iranians consume a large amount of carbohydrate in their usual diets (44), which in case of being the carrier of MC4R rs17782313 risk allele, may be at higher risk for general and central obesity.…”