title: Associations between a single nucleotide polymorphism of the FTO Gene (rs9939609) and obesity-related characteristics over time during puberty in a Dutch children cohort.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The influence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of the FTO gene has been shown to change over time.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to investigate the relationship between a SNP of the FTO gene (rs9939609) and obesity-related characteristics longitudinally during childhood and puberty.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 101 children (58 boys and 43 girls), the FTO (rs9939609) genotype and yearly anthropometric data from birth to age 7 yr were determined. From ages 12 to 17 yr, we measured anthropometry, body composition, leptin concentrations, physical activity, hours watching television, and attitude toward eating yearly; parental characteristics were determined as well.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At age 17 yr, 20% of the children were overweight/obese, and 88% of the overweight/obese children had the A allele in contrast to 45% of the lean children (P < 0.001). The A allele carriers had a higher fat mass index (kilograms per square meter) and higher leptin concentrations (micrograms per liter) during puberty, except at age 14 yr. Multiple regression analyses with body mass index (BMI; kilograms per square meter) as the dependent variable showed that at ages 12 and 17 yr, dietary restraint score, disinhibition score, BMI of the mother, and the FTO A allele significantly contributed to the model (R(2) = 0.29, P < 0.002; and R(2) = 0.39, P < 0.001). At age 14 yr, dietary restraint score, disinhibition score, and leptin concentrations per kilogram of fat mass significantly contributed to the model (R(2) = 0.25; P < 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The FTO A allele (rs9939609) is associated with higher BMI, fat mass index, and leptin concentrations from the age of 12 yr, whereas the associations show a dip at ages 13-14 yr and become stronger at age 17 yr. The dip is presumably caused by the dominating endocrinological changes at midpuberty.
authors.affiliation: Maastricht University, Department of Human Biology, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. F.Rutters@maastrichtuniversity.nl
authors.forename: Femke
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rutters
authors.forename: Arie G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Nieuwenhuizen
authors.forename: Freek
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bouwman
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mariman
authors.forename: Margriet S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Westerterp-Plantenga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000483:Alleles; D000071516:Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001823:Body Composition / Q000235:genetics; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008019:Life Style; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D009426:Netherlands; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011627:Puberty / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D012044:Regression Analysis
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin; D011506:Proteins; D000071516:Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO; C526492:FTO protein, human