Association of Leptin Receptor Gene Polymorphisms with Body Fat Distribution in Multiethnic Adolescent Girls of Hawaii

Abstract

Genetic polymorphisms that alter leptin levels have been associated with obesity. Little information is available on genetic polymorphisms and body fat distribution. In addition, central adiposity is an important risk factor for chronic metabolic diseases. We investigated the association of the Gln223Arg variant in the Leptin receptor gene (LEPR) with trunk‐to‐peripheral fat mass ratio (TPFR) measured by Dual energy X ray absorptiometry (DXA). This study was part of a larger study (Female Adolescent Maturation Study) that followed 349 multiethnic adolescent girls (ages 9–14yrs at baseline) and studied an additional 180 girls at the 3rd examination. Genotyping used DNA, obtained from mouthwash or blood. The frequency of the A allele was greater in Whites (0.6) than in Asians (0.1). Being an homozygote (AA) for the rarer allele was associated with a lower DXA TPFR and waist‐to‐hip circumference after adjusting for ancestry and age, LEPR Gln223Arg was not associated with other DXA body fat variables (including total fat mass), BMI, abdominal and hip circumferences. The relationship between LEPR polymorphisms and body fat has been studied widely, but not with the body fat distribution. Trunk‐to‐periphery fat ratio is a measure of the distribution of body fat acquired with DXA measures of fat of the body trunk and of the body periphery. In conclusion, the LEPR Gln223Arg polymorphism was associated with body fat distribution but not total body fat.Grant Funding Source: FASEB MARC