No association of defined variability in leptin, leptin receptor, adiponectin, proopiomelanocortin and ghrelin gene with food preferences in the Czech population.
BACKGROUND
Previously, it has been reported that mutations in the genes encoding for adipokines may be associated with impaired food intake and may serve as potential obesity biomarkers. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible associations of defined variability in leptin, leptin receptor, adiponectin, proopiomelanocortin and ghrelin genes with food preferences in the obese and non-obese Czech population and evaluate their potential as the obesity susceptibility genes.


METHODS
Using PCR followed by restriction analysis, we studied 185 volunteers. Basic anthropometrical characteristics associated to obesity were measured and the food intake was monitored using a 7-day record method. In the group of obese individuals, a subset of 34 morbidly obese patients was studied for plasma leptin and soluble leptin receptor levels.


RESULTS
None of the examined polymorphisms was associated to anthropometrical or demographic characteristics of the study subjects. The Gln223Arg polymorphism within the leptin receptor gene was significantly associated with lower plasma leptin levels (the RR genotype being more frequent in patients with lower plasma leptin levels; P = 0.001). No associations of the examined polymorphisms with food preferences was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on our results, the examined polymorphisms in the adipokine genes do not seem to be the major risk factor for obesity development in the Czech population nor significantly affect food preferences.
Department of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic. jbienert@med.muni.cz
Julie
J
Bienertova-Vasku
Petr
P
Bienert
Josef
J
Tomandl
Martin
M
Forejt
Martin
M
Vavrina
Jana
J
Kudelkova
Anna
A
Vasku
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000235:genetics*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018153:Czech Republic; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000097:blood; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000235:genetics*; D054411:Receptors, Leptin / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*
D052242:Adiponectin; D054439:Ghrelin; D020738:Leptin; D054411:Receptors, Leptin; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin