Genetic susceptibility for insulin resistance among Egyptian women

The fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene is recognized as the strongest predictor of obesity related traits such as insulin sensitivity and plasma glucose. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of the FTO rs17817449 genetic variant (G > T) polymorphism with risk of insulin resistance (IR) among Egyptian women. The variants in FTO rs17817449 were genotyped in 301 Egyptian women comprising two study groups, 150 women with IR and 151 healthy controls. The polymorphism of FTO rs17817449 was tested for association with IR. The frequencies of the FTO genotypes differed significantly between IR patients and healthy controls. Results revealed a significant association of TT genotype (OR, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.38-3.92; p = .001) and T-allele (OR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.11-1.72; p .007) with IR. BMI, waist circumference, waist to hip and, body fat % were the highest in homozygotes TT genotype and the lowest in GG homozygotes in IR women but not observed in control subjects. Moreover, other abnormal metabolic risk parameters were significantly higher in TT carriers compared to GT and GG carriers in IR group. Association between FTO SNP (rs17817449) and IR was observed under recessive model.

The present study suggests that FTO rs17817449 may have an important role in development of IR in Egyptian women.