Association of DIO2 Thr92Ala Polymorphism With Pediatric Obesity In Japanese Children: A Case Control Study

Abstract BackgroundGenetic factors play a critical role in the onset and progression of obesity. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity is also critical for adiposity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and effects of gene polymorphisms related to BAT in pediatric obesity.MethodsA case-control study with 270 non-obese and 86 obese children was performed. All participants underwent genotyping of type 2 deiodinase (DIO2) Thr92Ala (rs225014), uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) -3826 A/G (rs1800592), and β3 adrenergic receptor (β3AR) Trp64Arg (rs4994).ResultsIn the case-control study, the prevalence of the homozygous Ala/Ala allele of the DIO2 gene in the obese group was 15.1 % versus 6.3 % in the non-obese group, resulting in an odds ratio (OR) of 3.393 (95% confidence intervals [CI], 1.498-7.687, P = 0.003). The genotype distribution of UCP1-3826 A/G and ß3AR Trp64Arg did not significantly differ between the obese and the non-obese groups, and the ORs were 1.831 (95% CI, 0.955-3.512, P = 0.069) and 0.819 (95% CI, 0.263-2.555, P = 0.731), respectively.ConclusionsOur results indicate that the homozygous Ala/Ala allele of the DIO2 gene is associated with an increased risk of obesity in children.