title: Association between the ghrelin Leu72Met polymorphism and type 2 diabetes risk: a meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Data on the association between the ghrelin Leu72Met polymorphism and type 2 diabetes are conflicting. A meta-analysis was performed on this topic.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched for case-control studies using electronic databases (Medline and PubMed) and reference lists of studies. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) assuming dominant, recessive and homozygote comparison genetic models were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six case-control studies involving a total of 3417 cases and 3081 controls were included in this meta-analysis. No association was found between the ghrelin Leu72Met polymorphism and type 2 diabetes risk in the overall population in dominant, recessive and homozygote comparison models. However, in subgroup analyses stratified by ethnicity, we found that the risk for type 2 diabetes was decreased in subjects with Met72+ genotypes in Caucasians (OR=0.79, 95% CI: 0.64-0.98, P(z)=0.030).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ghrelin Leu72Met polymorphism was protective against type 2 diabetes in Caucasians. Future studies performed in larger sample size are needed to allow a more definitive conclusion.
authors: Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, PR China.
authors: Ning
authors: N
authors: Liao
authors: Zi-Kang
authors: ZK
authors: Xie
authors: Jian
authors: J
authors: Huang
authors: Zheng-Fu
authors: ZF
authors: Xie
mesh_terms: D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin