Genetic variant rs9939609 inFTOis associated with body composition and obesity risk in Korean females

Abstract

IntroductionThe fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene is a significant locus in obesity. However, the association betweenFTOgenetic variants and body composition has not been fully elucidated.Research design and methodsThis observational study examined the associations ofFTOrs9939609 T>A with obesity and body composition markers in Koreans. A total of 6474 participants from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study were analyzed for their general characteristics, body composition andFTOgenotype with a sex-stratified approach.ResultsFemales with the obesity risk A allele showed significantly greater body weight, hip circumference, and body mass index and were at a 1.28-fold higher risk of obesity (95% CI=1.088 to 1.507) than those with the TT genotype. Analyses of body composition also showed that females with the A allele had a greater body fat mass and percentage, abdominal fat percentage, and degree of obesity, and this association andFTOgenetic variation and adiposity was observed in females, especially aged under 50 years. However, the effect of the variant allele on non-fat tissue markers was not evident in females and was not associated with any parameters examined in males.ConclusionsTheFTOrs9939609 variant is associated with body composition in Koreans, especially body fat markers in females. These results support that theFTOrs9939609 variant is a genetic risk factor in the etiology of obesity.