Adiponectin gene polymorphisms in obese Greek youth.

We investigated single nucleotide polymorphisms 45T --> G and 276G --> T of the adiponectin gene in 48 obese Greek children and adolescents (3.58-16.25 years old) and examined their association with adiponectin levels and insulin resistance (IR), estimated with HOMA-IR, AUC(insulin) and WBISI. The polymorphisms were: 45T/G in 13/48 (27%) and 45G/G in 2 (4%) individuals; 276G/T in 21/41 (51%) and 276T/T in 3 (8%) individuals. Adiponectin in carriers of one or two G-alleles at position 45 was comparable to 45T/T (10.11 +/- 6.19 vs 8.03 +/- 4.96 microg/ml). Adiponectin in carriers of one or two T-alleles at position 276 was comparable to 276G/G (9.73 +/- 5.19 vs 7.77 +/- 5.65 microg/ml). SNP 45T --> G was not associated with IR. SNP276G --> T was associated with decreased risk for IR (OR = 3.05, 95% CI = 1.2384-11.13). In conclusion, SNPs 45T --> G and 276G --> T are common in obese young Greeks. SNP276G --> T might be protective against IR.