title: Obesity susceptibility loci in Qataris, a highly consanguineous Arabian population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In Qataris, a population characterized by a small size and a high rate of consanguinity, between two-thirds to three-quarters of adults are overweight or obese. We investigated the relevance of 23 obesity-related loci in the Qatari population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight-hundred-four individuals assessed to be third generation Qataris were included in the study and assigned to 3 groups according to their body mass index (BMI): 190 lean (BMI < 25 kg/m(2)); 131 overweight (25 kg/m(2) ≤ BMI < 30 kg/m(2)) and 483 obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m(2)). Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood and genotyped by TaqMan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two loci significantly associated with obesity in Qataris: the TFAP2B variation (rs987237) (A allele versus G allele: chi-square = 10.3; P = 0.0013) and GNPDA2 variation (rs10938397) (A allele versus G allele: chi-square = 6.15; P = 0.013). The TFAP2B GG genotype negatively associated with obesity (OR = 0.21; P = 0.0031). Conversely, the GNDPA2 GG homozygous genotype associated with higher risk of obesity in subjects of age < 32 years (P = 0.0358).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We showed a different genetic profile associated with obesity in the Qatari population compared to Western populations. Studying the genetic background of Qataris is of primary importance as the etiology of a given disease might be population-specific.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetic Medicine, Laboratory of Genetic Medicine & Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Al Luqta Street, Qatar Foundation, Education City, Doha, Qatar, PO 24144. stomei@sidra.org.|Sidra Medical and Research Center, Research Branch, Al Nasr Tower, Al Corniche Street, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar, PO 26999. stomei@sidra.org.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tomei
authors.affiliation: Global and Public Health Department, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Doha, Qatar. ram2026@qatar-med.cornell.edu.
authors.forename: Ravinder
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mamtani
authors.affiliation: Sidra Medical and Research Center, Research Branch, Al Nasr Tower, Al Corniche Street, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar, PO 26999. ralali@sidra.org.
authors.forename: Rashid
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Al Ali
authors.affiliation: Sidra Medical and Research Center, Research Branch, Al Nasr Tower, Al Corniche Street, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar, PO 26999. nelkum@sidra.org.
authors.forename: Naser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Elkum
authors.affiliation: Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar. mabdulmalik@phcc.gov.qa.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abdulmalik
authors.affiliation: Global and Public Health Department, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Doha, Qatar. achouchn@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Awatef
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.affiliation: Global and Public Health Department, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Doha, Qatar. soc2005@qatar-med.cornell.edu.
authors.forename: Sohaila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cheema
authors.affiliation: Global and Public Health Department, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Doha, Qatar. har2005@qatar-med.cornell.edu.
authors.forename: Hekmat A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Rouh
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetic Medicine, Laboratory of Genetic Medicine & Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Al Luqta Street, Qatar Foundation, Education City, Doha, Qatar, PO 24144. idilucha@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Idil I
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Aigha
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetic Medicine, Laboratory of Genetic Medicine & Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Al Luqta Street, Qatar Foundation, Education City, Doha, Qatar, PO 24144. fatma-m-hani@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Fatima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hani
authors.affiliation: Global and Public Health Department, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Doha, Qatar. sha2038@qatar-med.cornell.edu.
authors.forename: Sura
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Samraye
authors.affiliation: Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar. MASEEL@phcc.gov.qa.
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taher Aseel
authors.affiliation: Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar. nemadi@phcc.gov.qa.
authors.forename: Nada
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: El Emadi
authors.affiliation: Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar. aasaad@phcc.gov.qa.
authors.forename: Azza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al Mujalli
authors.affiliation: Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar. akarim@phcc.gov.qa.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdelkerim
authors.affiliation: Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar. sosman@phcc.gov.qa.
authors.forename: Siddik
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Youssif
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetic Medicine, Laboratory of Genetic Medicine & Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Al Luqta Street, Qatar Foundation, Education City, Doha, Qatar, PO 24144. anw2028@qatar-med.cornell.edu.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Worschech
authors.affiliation: Sidra Medical and Research Center, Research Branch, Al Nasr Tower, Al Corniche Street, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar, PO 26999. eelsebakhy@sidra.org.
authors.forename: Emad
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: El Sebakhy
authors.affiliation: Sidra Medical and Research Center, Research Branch, Al Nasr Tower, Al Corniche Street, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar, PO 26999. rtemanni@sidra.org.
authors.forename: Ramzi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Temanni
authors.affiliation: Sidra Medical and Research Center, Research Branch, Al Nasr Tower, Al Corniche Street, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar, PO 26999. vkhanna@sidra.org.
authors.forename: Vineesh
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Khanna
authors.affiliation: Sidra Medical and Research Center, Research Branch, Al Nasr Tower, Al Corniche Street, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar, PO 26999. ewang@sidra.org.
authors.forename: Ena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetic Medicine, Laboratory of Genetic Medicine & Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Al Luqta Street, Qatar Foundation, Education City, Doha, Qatar, PO 24144. dhanyabiotech@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Dhanya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kizhakayil
authors.affiliation: Supreme Council of Health, Doha, Qatar. aalthani@sch.gov.qa.
authors.forename: Al-Anood
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Al-Thani
authors.affiliation: Supreme Council of Health, Doha, Qatar. malthani@sch.gov.qa.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Thani
authors.affiliation: New York Medical College, New York, USA. Lowenfels@nymc.edu.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lowenfels
authors.affiliation: Sidra Medical and Research Center, Research Branch, Al Nasr Tower, Al Corniche Street, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar, PO 26999. fmarincola@sidra.org.
authors.forename: Francesco M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Marincola
authors.affiliation: Dean's Office, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Doha, Qatar. jis2011@med.cornell.edu.
authors.forename: Javaid
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sheikh
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetic Medicine, Laboratory of Genetic Medicine & Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Al Luqta Street, Qatar Foundation, Education City, Doha, Qatar, PO 24144. loc2008@qatar-med.cornell.edu.
authors.forename: Lotfi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chouchane
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018912:Arabs / Q000235:genetics*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003241:Consanguinity; D005260:Female; D056426:Genetic Loci; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011780:Qatar; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000235:genetics; D013851:Thinness / Q000235:genetics