Association study of common functional genetic polymorphisms in SLC6A4 (5-HTT) and MAOA genes with obesity in portuguese children

Objectives:To investigate the association of polymorphisms inSLC6A4andMAOAgenes with obesity indices in children. Material and Methods:A total of 637 Portuguese children (317 girls; 320 boys) aged 3-11 years-old were genotyped for theSLC6A4polymorphisms, 5-HTTLPR and STin2, and for aMAOAVNTR. Polymorphisms were analysed by PCR-based methods. Results:Although non-significant (p = .089), our study revealed the Stin2 10 minor allele with a marked higher frequency in girls with overweight/obesity (0.466) in comparison with controls (0.376). Combining the twoSLC6A4polymorphisms, haplotype S/12 revealed in girls significant or nominally significant protective effects against BMI (beta = -0.615;p = .009), BMI Z-score (beta = -0.251;p = .006), WC (beta = -1.4;p = .02) and WHtR (beta = -0.008;p = .04). Conclusions:We found some evidences for the role ofSLC6A4gene in measures of childhood obesity, mainly in girls.

Automated summary

This study investigated the association of polymorphisms in SLC6A4 and MAOA genes with obesity indices in children. The results suggest that the SLC6A4 gene may play a role in childhood obesity, particularly in girls.