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Correlates of the FTO gene variant (rs9939609) and growth of American Indian infants

Nuananong Seal1, Michael Weaver, Lyle G Best

  • 1College of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201, USA. lekseal@ymail.com

Genetic Testing and Molecular Biomarkers
|April 16, 2011
PubMed

Insights

The FTO gene variant rs9939609 A allele was not associated with birth weight, formula intake, or weight for length Z score in American Indian infants. Further research is needed to understand obesity risk factors in this population.

Area of Science:

  • Genetics and Genomics
  • Public Health
  • Pediatric Nutrition

Background:

  • Obesity is a significant global health issue with serious co-morbidities.
  • The FTO variant rs9939609 A allele is linked to increased obesity risk in many populations.
  • Its association in American Indian (AI) populations remains unexamined.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the frequency of the FTO variant rs9939609 A allele in AI infants.
  • To determine associations between this allele and birth weight, weight for length (WFL) Z score, and formula intake.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional exploratory descriptive study design.
  • Sample included 49 American Indian mother-infant dyads.
  • Examined FTO variant rs9939609 allele frequency and related infant growth and feeding parameters.

Main Results:

  • Mothers with the A allele had higher prepregnancy BMI, but not statistically significant (p=0.08).
  • Infants with the A allele showed non-significant trends towards higher birth weight, WFL Z score, and formula intake.
  • No statistically significant associations were found between maternal or infant A alleles and the studied outcomes (p>0.05).

Conclusions:

  • The study did not confirm the association of the FTO variant rs9939609 A allele with birth weight, formula intake, or WFL Z score in AI infants.
  • Findings suggest potential population-specific genetic influences on obesity risk.
  • Further investigation is warranted to explore genetic and environmental factors contributing to obesity in AI infants.
Abstract

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