Effects of leptin gene variants on obesity and its attributes in Malay population

Abstract

Leptin is a hormone that regulates the energy intake and expenditure which is encoded by leptin gene. Leptin gene variants were studied comprehensively in relation with body weight status, but the evidences were indecisive. This study was to determine the association between leptin gene variants, G2548A, H1328080 and A19G with obesity and its attributes in Terengganu, Malaysian population. This study involved a total of 249 Malay subjects (101 healthy adults with normal BMI as the control group and 148 overweight and obese subjects). The anthropometrics data were obtained, blood samples were collected for genetic markers and lipid profile analyses. PCR-RFLP technique was performed to determine the genotype and allele distribution of leptin gene variants. The genotypic and allelic frequencies of leptin gene variants presented no significant difference between groups, G2548A (P = 0.93 and 0.74); H1328080 (P = 0.58 and 0.56); and A19G (P = 0.72 and 0.38) correspondingly. However, there was statistical significant difference between triglyceride level and genotypes of G2548A variant (P = 0.016); between total cholesterol level and H1328080 genotypes (P = 0.027). In addition, multivariate logistic regression projected the male gender (adjusted OR= 26.27; CI= 1.06-1.25; P = 0.009), waist circumference (adjusted OR = 1.15; CI = 1.06-1.25; P = 0.001) and body fat percentage (adjusted OR = 1.43; CI = 1.20-1.70; P<0.001) were the independent risk factors for obesity. The data suggest G2548A, H1328080 and A19G variants were not associated with obesity. However, waist circumference and body fat percentage may increase risk for obesity in Malay population.