FTO genetic variation and association with obesity in West Africans and African Americans.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The FTO gene is one of the most consistently replicated loci for obesity. However, data from populations of African ancestry are limited. We evaluated genetic variation in the FTO gene and investigated associations with obesity in West Africans and African Americans.

Research design and methods

The study samples comprised 968 African Americans (59% female, mean age 49 years, mean BMI 30.8 kg/m(2)) and 517 West Africans (58% female, mean age 54 years, mean BMI 25.5 kg/m(2)). FTO genetic variation was evaluated by genotyping 262 tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across the entire gene. Association of each SNP with BMI, waist circumference, and percent fat mass was investigated under an additive model.

Results

As expected, both African-ancestry samples

SUBMITTER: Adeyemo A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2874717 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature