Heritability of metabolic syndrome traits in a large population-based sample.

ABSTRACT: Heritability estimates of metabolic syndrome traits vary widely across studies. Some studies have suggested that the contribution of genes may vary with age or sex. We estimated the heritability of 11 metabolic syndrome-related traits and height as a function of age and sex in a large population-based sample of twin families (N = 2,792-27,021, for different traits). A moderate-to-high heritability was found for all traits [from H(2) = 0.47 (insulin) to H(2) = 0.78 (BMI)]. The broad-sense heritability (H(2)) showed little variation between age groups in women; it differed somewhat more in men (e.g., for glucose, H(2) = 0.61 in young females, H(2) = 0.56 in older females, H(2) = 0.64 in young males, and H(2)= 0.27 in older males). While nonadditive genetic effects explained little variation

SUBMITTER: van Dongen J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3770104 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature