Association of CD36 gene variants and metabolic syndrome in Iranians

The CD36 gene encodes for a membrane receptor that facilitates fatty-acid uptake and utilization. Genetic variants of the CD36 gene have been associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS). We aimed to evaluate the association between the rs10499859A>G and rs13246513C>T polymorphisms and MetS components.

For this case-control study, 140 MetS and 187 normal subjects were randomly selected from the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study participants. Biochemical and anthropometrical variables were measured. Genotyping for both single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism.

Case and control groups were not different in allele and genotype frequencies for these SNPs. However, the A and T alleles of these SNPs were significantly associated with elevated levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) before age and sex adjustment (p=0.027 and 0.016, respectively). Association between the A allele and body mass index (BMI) was also significant after adjustment for MetS under the dominant model (p=0.009, β(2)=0.68).

Based on our results, these polymorphisms do affect HDL-C level and BMI (MetS components), although the effect may be slight and restricted specifically to an environment-genotype.