Contribution of fatty acid transporter (CD36) genetic variant rs1761667 to body mass index, the TAMRISK study

Abstract

Background. Human fatty acid transporter CD36 gene variations have previously been associated with fat preferences and obesity. These variations could thus cause overweight and hypothetically lead to hypertension. The association of CD36 SNP rs1761667 with body mass index (BMI) and hypertension was therefore studied in a Finnish cohort of adults. Methods. The data were collected from the Tampere adult population cardiovascular risk study (TAMRISK). A total of 314 cases with diagnosed hypertension, and 422 non-hypertensive healthy controls were selected from a Finnish periodic 50-year-old health examination cohort. Most subjects had prior health examination data also from their 40- and 45-year examinations. DNA was extracted from buccal swabs and the human CD36 genetic variant was analyzed using KASP genotyping. Results. The CD36 SNP rs1761667 variant AA was significantly associated with lower BMI, as compared to variants AG and GG at the ages of 40-, 45-, and 50 years (p < 0.001, p = 0.005 and p = 0.013, respectively). No association of this CD36 variation with hypertension was found. Conclusions. CD36 rs1761667 was associated with BMI in the TAMRISK study. Considering the multitude of roles of CD36 in processes related to fatty acid metabolism and sensing in the body, it is plausible that genetic variation in human fatty acid transporter CD36 can have effects on regulation of energy homeostasis.