The Q223R polymorphism in LEPR is associated with obesity in Pacific Islanders.
Various Pacific Island populations have experienced a marked increase in the prevalence of obesity in past decades. This study examined the association of a promoter polymorphism of the leptin gene (LEP), G-2548A (rs7799039), and two non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms of the leptin receptor gene (LEPR), K109R (rs1137100) and Q223R (rs1137101), with body weight, body mass index (BMI) and obesity (BMI > or = 30) in Pacific Islanders. A total of 745 Austronesian (AN)-speaking participants were analyzed after adjusting for age, gender, and population differences. The results revealed that carriers of the 223Q alleles of LEPR had significantly higher body weight (P = 0.0009) and BMI (P = 0.0022) than non-carriers (i.e., 223R homozygotes); furthermore, the 223Q carriers also had a signiWcantly higher risk of obesity in comparison to non-carriers (P = 0.0222). The other two polymorphisms, G-2548A and K109R, were associated with neither body weight, BMI, nor obesity. The 223Q allele was widely found among the AN-speaking study subjects, thus suggesting that the LEPR Q223R polymorphism is one of the factors contributing to the high prevalence of obesity in the Pacific Island populations.
Furusawa
Takuro
T
Asian Studies Network (ASNET), Division for International Relations, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. takuro.f@gmail.com
Naka
Izumi
I
Yamauchi
Taro
T
Natsuhara
Kazumi
K
Kimura
Ryosuke
R
Nakazawa
Minato
M
Ishida
Takafumi
T
Inaoka
Tsukasa
T
Matsumura
Yasuhiro
Y
Ataka
Yuji
Y
Nishida
Nao
N
Tsuchiya
Naoyuki
N
Ohtsuka
Ryutaro
R
Ohashi
Jun
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution / Q000235:genetics; D001120:Arginine / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D005828:Genetics, Population; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D010139:Pacific Islands / Q000453:epidemiology; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000502:physiology; D015995:Prevalence; D054411:Receptors, Leptin / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
C515448:LEPR protein, human; D054411:Receptors, Leptin; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D001120:Arginine