title: Association of genetic variants in the FTO gene with metabolic syndrome: A case-control study in the Tunisian population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Variants in the fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) are associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes. However, the association of FTO variants in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region with MetS is largely unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association of FTO gene with MetS and its components in Tunisian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two variants in the FTO gene were genotyped: rs1421085 T>C and rs8057044 A>G in cases and controls from Tunisian population. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were assessed. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The FTO rs1421085 variant conferred an increased risk to MetS (OR=1.61, 95% CI=1.14-2.26, P=0.024) that was abolished when adjusted for fasting plasma glucose (FPG), suggesting that the association may be due to variation in FPG levels. Indeed, this variant was associated to FPG (OR = 1.7, 95% CI=1.23-2.44, P=0.002) independently from BMI or age. The second polymorphism rs8057044 was associated with high blood pressure levels (OR=1.45, 95% CI=1.06-1.99, P=0.019).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study highlighting the association between FTO gene variants and MetS in Tunisian population. These findings provide evidence that FTO gene may play a critical role in leading to MetS in Tunisian population.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, BP 74, 13 Place Pasteur, Tunis 1002, Consortium MEDIGENE, Tunisia; Université de Tunis El Manar, 2092 El Manar I, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Sahar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elouej
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, BP 74, 13 Place Pasteur, Tunis 1002, Consortium MEDIGENE, Tunisia; Université de Tunis El Manar, 2092 El Manar I, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Majdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagara
authors.affiliation: Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory, IURC, 641, Avenue du Doyen Gaston Giraud, 34093 Montpellier Cedex5, Consortium MEDIGENE, France.
authors.forename: Redha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Attaoua
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, BP 74, 13 Place Pasteur, Tunis 1002, Consortium MEDIGENE, Tunisia; Department of External Consultation, National Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, 11 Rue Jebel lakdhar, 1007 Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Om Kalthoum
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Sallem
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, BP 74, 13 Place Pasteur, Tunis 1002, Consortium MEDIGENE, Tunisia; Université de Tunis El Manar, 2092 El Manar I, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Insaf
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rejeb
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, BP 74, 13 Place Pasteur, Tunis 1002, Consortium MEDIGENE, Tunisia; Université de Tunis El Manar, 2092 El Manar I, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Sana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hsouna
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, BP 74, 13 Place Pasteur, Tunis 1002, Consortium MEDIGENE, Tunisia; Université de Tunis El Manar, 2092 El Manar I, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Khaled
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lasram
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, BP 74, 13 Place Pasteur, Tunis 1002, Consortium MEDIGENE, Tunisia; Université de Tunis El Manar, 2092 El Manar I, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Nizar Ben
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Halim
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, BP 74, 13 Place Pasteur, Tunis 1002, Consortium MEDIGENE, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mariem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chargui
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, BP 74, 13 Place Pasteur, Tunis 1002, Consortium MEDIGENE, Tunisia; Department of External Consultation, National Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, 11 Rue Jebel lakdhar, 1007 Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Henda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jamoussi
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, National Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, 11 Rue Jebel lakdhar, 1007 Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Zinet
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Turki
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, National Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, 11 Rue Jebel lakdhar, 1007 Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kamoun
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Epidemiology and Prevention Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, 15 rue Djebel Akdhar-La Rabta-Bab Saâdoun, 1007 Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Hanen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Belfki-Benali
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, BP 74, 13 Place Pasteur, Tunis 1002, Consortium MEDIGENE, Tunisia; Department of External Consultation, National Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, 11 Rue Jebel lakdhar, 1007 Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Abdelmajid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abid
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, National Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, 11 Rue Jebel lakdhar, 1007 Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Claude Ben
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Slama
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory of Medical Biology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, BP 74, 13 Place Pasteur, 1002 Tunis, Tunisia; Université de Tunis El Manar, 2092 El Manar I, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bahri
authors.affiliation: Directorate of Basic Health Care, DSSB, 31 Rue de khartoum, 1002 Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Dalenda
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Triki
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Epidemiology and Prevention Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, 15 rue Djebel Akdhar-La Rabta-Bab Saâdoun, 1007 Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Habiba Ben
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Romdhane
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, BP 74, 13 Place Pasteur, Tunis 1002, Consortium MEDIGENE, Tunisia; Université de Tunis El Manar, 2092 El Manar I, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abdelhak
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, BP 74, 13 Place Pasteur, Tunis 1002, Consortium MEDIGENE, Tunisia; Université de Tunis El Manar, 2092 El Manar I, Tunis, Tunisia. Electronic address: rym.kefi@pasteur.rns.tn.
authors.forename: Rym
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kefi
authors.affiliation: Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory, IURC, 641, Avenue du Doyen Gaston Giraud, 34093 Montpellier Cedex5, Consortium MEDIGENE, France.
authors.forename: Florin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grigorescu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000071516:Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000071516:Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO; C526492:FTO protein, human
keywords: FPG; FTO gene; Genetic association; Metabolic syndrome; Tunisian population