Association of fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene rs9939609 with obesity-related traits and glucose intolerance in an indigenous population, the Xavante

Abstract

Background and aims: Common variants in fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene have been implicated as a susceptibility locus for obesity and type 2 diabetes in different populations. Here, in an indigenous population-based study, we examined whether FTO rs9939609 has a role in susceptibility to glucose intolerance and obesity.

Methods: The study population comprised 949 full Xavante indigenous people (465 men) aged 18-99 years. The participants were submitted to clinical examination, anthropometrical measures and basal and 2-h post 75g oral glucose load capillary glucose measurements. FTO rs9939609 was genotyped and logistic regression was carried out to test the additive effect of the risk allele.

Results: The frequency of the minor allele of the FTO rs9939609 (0.06) was lower in Xavante than observed in some populations. A significant association between the variant and overweight was observed (OR = 1.56 (95% CI:1.06-2.29, p = 0.02), using an additive model of inheritance, adjusted by age and gender and considering the family structure. We found no associations with obesity or glucose intolerance.

Conclusions: The FTO rs9939609 is associated with overweight, but not with obesity or glucose intolerance. The low frequency of the A allele suggests that it is not an important risk determinant for these conditions in Xavante indigenous people.

Keywords: FTO gene; Glucose intolerance; Obesity.