The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ2 Pro12Ala mutation is associated with early onset extreme obesity and reduced fasting glucose

We screened the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma(2) (PPAR gamma 2) for sequence variants in 165 unrelated obese (BMI greater than or equal to 30 kg/m(2)) Caucasian women, and 49 normal weight Caucasian female controls (BMI < 27 kg/m(2)). The allele frequency of the Pro12Ala mutation was higher in obese(18.18%) than in normal weight women (8.16%) (chi((1))(2) = 5.68, P = 0.017). Among obese women, the Pro12Ala mutation lowered age of obesity onset (Pro/Pro, 13.2 +/- 9.4 years; Pro/Ala + Ala/Ala 8.6 +/- 7.1 years, P = 0.005), was associated with lower fasting glucose and was protective against type II diabetes. (C) 2000 Academic Press.