rs3751812, a common variant in fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene, is associated with serum high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in Pakistani individuals.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of a common variant of the fat mass and obesity associated (FTO) gene, rs3751812 in obese Pakistani individuals, compare this effect with nonobese controls of the same ethnicity, and then correlate it with serum lipid profile and anthropometric parameters. METHODS: We genotyped 475 samples using TaqMan allelic discrimination assay. Serum total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, and high- (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations were measured. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS version 22 and the results were analyzed for any significant associations. RESULTS: Results demonstrated that the variant is significantly associated with obesity in Pakistan. The study found, for the first time, that the variant has a significant effect on lowering HDL-C and increasing LDL-C. Among anthropometric measures, the variant showed significant association with body mass index and weight. CONCLUSION: The study concludes that the FTO variant is consistently associated with obesity in the Pakistani population and its association with anthropometric and lipid parameters show that it may mediate its role by altering fat deposition and disturbing serum lipid profile. However, future studies with larger sample size are needed to validate the results of the present study.