Association of the Human PPARY2 PRO12ALA Polymorphism with Obesity in a Population from Turkey

BACKGROUND: There have been a number of reports on the relationship between the PPARγ2 Pro12Ala genotype and the development of obesity. OBJECTIVE: A case-control survey was designed to investigate the potential association between a Pro12Ala polymorphism in the PPARγ2 gene and obesity and/or obesity-related phenotypes in a population from Turkey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme digestion were used to genotype the Pro12Ala polymorphism of the PPARγ2 gene in 149 unrelated obese and 105 non-obese control subjects from Turkey. The data were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: controls in the population studied, only the gender-stratified analysis revealed a significantly higher frequency of Pro/Ala genotype within males. The polymorphism was associated with significantly higher weight, height, waist circumference, central adiposity (waist-to-hip ratio, WHR), lean body weight as well as dry body weight, but not overall adiposity (total body fat percentage, TBF) in cases carrying Ala allele (Pro/Ala or Ala/Ala). However, in the subjects carrying Ala allele of the control group, WHR values were found significantly lower. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that the Pro12Ala polymorphism in the PPARγ2 gene is associated with obesity in the studied adult population from Turkey. These data suggest that the Pro12Ala polymorphism in PPARγ2 may be a potential genetic risk factor for central obesity.