A mitochondrial DNA D-loop polymorphism and obesity in three cohorts of women.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the hypothesis of an association between a mtDNA D-loop Kpn I restriction site polymorphism (RSP) at base pair (bp) 16,133 (morph-1) and obesity in women.


METHODS
Comparisons of carriers and noncarriers of the mutation for BMI (Body Mass Index) levels and of the frequency of the mutation in obese and normal weight women.


METHODS
567 unrelated adult Caucasian non-diabetic women from the HERITAGE Family Study (n = 63; BMI: 15-47 kg/m2), Quebec Family Study (QFS; 77 controls, BMI: 19-26 kg/m2 and 38 obese, BMI: 27-56 kg/m2) and Swedish Obese Subjects (SOS) Study (81 controls, BMI: 18-26 kg/m2 and 308 obese, BMI: 33-58 kg/m2).


METHODS
BMI was calculated from weight and height (kg/m2). mtDNA was amplified between base pair 15,928 and 16,500 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and digested with the restriction endonuclease Kpn I.


RESULTS
No significant differences in the age-adjusted BMI for the mtDNA D-loop Kpn I RSP at base pair (bp) 16,133 (morph-1) between carriers and non-carriers in the HERITAGE cohort. No significant association was found between BMI and the Kpn I RSP carrier status in the SOS and QFS cohorts. The observed frequencies for the Kpn I RSP were not significantly (P > 0.05) different between the SOS controls and SOS obese irrespective of the degree of severity of obesity (BMI > 40, > 45 or > 50 kg/m2).


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that the mtDNA D-loop Kpn I RSP at bp 16,133 (morph-1) is not a determinant of human obesity.
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Laval University, Québec, Canada.
M A
MA
Rivera
L
L
Pérusse
J
J
Gagnon
F T
FT
Dionne
A S
AS
Leon
D C
DC
Rao
J S
JS
Skinner
J H
JH
Wilmore
L
L
Sjöström
C
C
Bouchard
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017931:DNA Primers; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011647:Puerto Rico; D011792:Quebec; D013548:Sweden
D017931:DNA Primers; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial