Licínio Manco1, Aristides M Machado-Rodrigues1,2, Cristina Padez1. 1. Research Centre for Anthropology and Health (CIAS), Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. 2. High School of Education, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, Viseu, Portugal.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association of polymorphisms in SLC6A4 and MAOA genes with obesity indices in children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 637 Portuguese children (317 girls; 320 boys) aged 3-11 years-old were genotyped for the SLC6A4 polymorphisms, 5-HTTLPR and STin2, and for a MAOA VNTR. Polymorphisms were analysed by PCR-based methods. RESULTS: Although non-significant (p = .089), our study revealed the Stin2 10 minor allele with a marked higher frequency in girls with overweight/obesity (0.466) in comparison with controls (0.376). Combining the two SLC6A4 polymorphisms, haplotype S/12 revealed in girls significant or nominally significant protective effects against BMI (β = -0.615; p = .009), BMI Z-score (β = -0.251; p = .006), WC (β = -1.4; p = .02) and WHtR (β = -0.008; p = .04). CONCLUSIONS: We found some evidences for the role of SLC6A4 gene in measures of childhood obesity, mainly in girls.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association of polymorphisms in SLC6A4 and MAOA genes with obesity indices in children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 637 Portuguese children (317 girls; 320 boys) aged 3-11 years-old were genotyped for the SLC6A4 polymorphisms, 5-HTTLPR and STin2, and for a MAOA VNTR. Polymorphisms were analysed by PCR-based methods. RESULTS: Although non-significant (p = .089), our study revealed the Stin2 10 minor allele with a marked higher frequency in girls with overweight/obesity (0.466) in comparison with controls (0.376). Combining the two SLC6A4 polymorphisms, haplotype S/12 revealed in girls significant or nominally significant protective effects against BMI (β = -0.615; p = .009), BMI Z-score (β = -0.251; p = .006), WC (β = -1.4; p = .02) and WHtR (β = -0.008; p = .04). CONCLUSIONS: We found some evidences for the role of SLC6A4 gene in measures of childhood obesity, mainly in girls.