title: ELOVL6 genetic variation is related to insulin sensitivity: a new candidate gene in energy metabolism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The elongase of long chain fatty acids family 6 (ELOVL6) is an enzyme that specifically catalyzes the elongation of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids with 12, 14 and 16 carbons. ELOVL6 is expressed in lipogenic tissues and it is regulated by sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP-1).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We investigated whether ELOVL6 genetic variation is associated with insulin sensitivity in a population from southern Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  We undertook a prospective, population-based study collecting phenotypic, metabolic, nutritional and genetic information. Measurements were made of weight and height and the body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Insulin resistance was measured by homeostasis model assessment. The type of dietary fat was assessed from samples of cooking oil taken from the participants' kitchens and analyzed by gas chromatography. Five SNPs of the ELOVL6 gene were analyzed by SNPlex.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Carriers of the minor alleles of the SNPs rs9997926 and rs6824447 had a lower risk of having high HOMA_IR, whereas carriers of the minor allele rs17041272 had a higher risk of being insulin resistant. An interaction was detected between the rs6824447 polymorphism and the intake of oil in relation with insulin resistance, such that carriers of this minor allele who consumed sunflower oil had lower HOMA_IR than those who did not have this allele (P = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Genetic variations in the ELOVL6 gene were associated with insulin sensitivity in this population-based study.
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Nutrition Service, Hospital Carlos Haya, Malaga, Spain. sonsoles75@gmail.com
authors.forename: Sonsoles
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morcillo
authors.forename: Gracia María
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Martín-Núñez
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rojo-Martínez
authors.forename: María Cruz
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Almaraz
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: García-Escobar
authors.forename: María Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Mansego
authors.forename: Griselda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: de Marco
authors.forename: Felipe J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Chaves
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Soriguer
mesh_terms: D000123:Acetyltransferases / Q000235:genetics*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000235:genetics*; D000081031:Fatty Acid Elongases; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C000630955:ELOVL6 protein, human; D000123:Acetyltransferases; D000081031:Fatty Acid Elongases