title: Association of FTO rs9939609 SNP with Obesity and Obesity- Associated Phenotypes in a North Indian Population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obesity is a common disorder that has a significant impact on morbidity and mortality. Twin and adoption studies support the genetic influence on variation of obesity, and the estimates of the heritability of body mass index (BMI) is significantly high (30 to 70%). Variants in the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene have been associated with obesity and obesity-related phenotypes in different populations. The aim of this study was to examine the association of FTO rs9939609 with obesity and related phenotypes in North Indian subjects.  .
  
  
  METHODS
  Gene variants were investigated for association with obesity in 309 obese and 333 non-obese patients. Genotyping of the FTO rs9939609 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was analyzed using Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis of PCR-Amplified Fragments. We also measured participants fasting glucose and insulin levels, lipid profile, percentage body fat, fat mass and fat free mass.  .
  
  
  RESULTS
  Waist to hip ratio, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, percentage body fat, fat mass, insulin concentration, and homeostasis model assessment index (HOMA-Index) showed a significant difference between the study groups. Significant associations were found for FTO rs9939609 SNP with obesity and obesity-related phenotypes. The significant associations were observed between the rs9939609 SNP and blood pressure, fat mass, insulin, and HOMA-index under a different model.  .
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study presents significant association between FTO rs9939609 and obesity defined by BMI and also established the strong association with several measures of obesity in North Indian population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, King George's Medical University, Uttar Pradesh, India; Department of Pediatrics, King George's Medical University, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Jai
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Prakash
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Balraj
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mittal
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, King George's Medical University, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Apurva
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Srivastava
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, King George's Medical University, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Shally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Awasthi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, King George's Medical University, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Neena
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Srivastava
keywords: Blood Pressure; Body Mass Index; FTO, Fat Mass; Insulin