RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Interleukin-6 receptor (IL6R) has been linked with type 2 diabetes and obesity. The presence of the Asp allele in Asp358Ala of IL6R has been linked with insulin resistance and weight gain. AIM: The aim of this study is to evaluate the frequency and the association of the Asp358Ala in the IL6R gene in Chilean women with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and its relationship with body mass index (BMI). PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and forty-five patients with T1D (N = 145) and healthy control women (N = 103) were recruited. The polymorphisms were studied with polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphisms. The effect of the polymorphisms on BMI and age of diagnosis was evaluated. RESULTS: A higher frequency of the Asp allele was observed in patients with T1D compared with controls (0.483 vs. 0.364; p < 0.01). The Asp358Asp genotype was more prevalent in the T1D group compared with controls (0.152 vs. 0.097; p < 0.01). T1D patients younger than 19 years had a positive association of BMI-standard deviation scores with the Asp allele (p < 0.05). Finally, lower Glycated Hemoglobin 1c (HbA1c) levels were observed in patients carrying the Asp allele (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: T1D in Chilean women appears to be associated with the presence of the Asp allele in IL6R. The IL6R polymorphism (Asp358/Asp) was associated with BMI in T1D patients. This genetic variant could have some role in weight gain in T1D women.