title: Early screening of FTO and MC4R variants in newborns of Greek origin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Variants of fat mass and obesity associated gene (FTO) and melanocortin-4 receptor gene (MC4R) are related to obesity, overweight and type 2 diabetes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the presence of FTO and MC4R variants in Greek newborns.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total 1530 newborns of Greek origin were subjected to genetic testing for rs9939609 (FTO) and for rs17782313 (MC4R) variants using dried blood spot (DBS) analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Some 20.2% of newborns carried none of the tested variants. FTO homozygotes and FTO heterozygotes correspond to 18.0% and 45.9% of neonates, respectively. MC4R homozygotes and MC4R heterozygotes were identified in 6.7% and 36.3% of neonates, respectively. Of the infants, 2.2% carried both variants in homozygosity, whereas heterozygotes for both variants correspond to 16.7% of the tested neonates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate high prevalence of homozygosity and heterozygosity for tested variants. Early screening via DBS may be beneficial in order to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
authors.forename: Elina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Molou
authors.forename: Kleopatra H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Schulpis
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Birbilis
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thodi
authors.forename: Vassiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Georgiou
authors.forename: Yannis
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dotsikas
authors.forename: Yannis L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Loukas
mesh_terms: D000071516:Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4 / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C470072:MC4R protein, human; D011506:Proteins; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4; D000071516:Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO; C526492:FTO protein, human