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Polymorphisms in the SCD1 Gene: Associations With Body Fat Distribution and Insulin Sensitivity
Author(s) -
Warensjö Eva,
Ingelsson Erik,
Lundmark Per,
Lannfelt Lars,
Syvänen AnnChristine,
Vessby Bengt,
Risérus Ulf
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.438
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1930-739X
pISSN - 1930-7381
DOI - 10.1038/oby.2007.206
Subject(s) - waist , insulin resistance , obesity , medicine , endocrinology , population , circumference , body mass index , single nucleotide polymorphism , insulin , metabolic syndrome , biology , genetics , gene , genotype , geometry , mathematics , environmental health
Objective: Obesity and insulin resistance are major risk factors for metabolic diseases and are influenced by lifestyle and genetics. The lipogenic enzyme, stearoyl‐coenzyme A‐desaturase (SCD), is related to obesity. Further, SCD1 ‐deficent mice are protected against obesity and insulin resistance. We hypothesized that genetic polymorphisms in the SCD1 gene would be associated with obesity, insulin sensitivity, and estimated SCD activity in humans. Research Methods and Procedures: The study population was 1143 elderly Swedish men taking part of a population‐based cohort study, the Uppsala Longitudinal Study of Adult Men. Associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms and obesity (waist circumference and BMI), insulin sensitivity (assessed by hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp), and estimated SCD activity (fatty acid ratios) were analyzed using linear regression analysis. Results: Subjects homozygous for the rare alleles of rs10883463, rs7849, rs2167444 , and rs508384 had decreased BMI and waist circumference and improved insulin sensitivity. The rare allele of rs7849 demonstrated the strongest effect on both insulin sensitivity [regression coefficient (β) = 1.19, p = 0.007] and waist circumference (β = −4.4, p = 0.028), corresponding to 23% higher insulin sensitivity and 4 cm less waist circumference. Conclusion: This study indicates that genetic variations in the SCD1 gene are associated with body fat distribution and insulin sensitivity, results that accord well with animal data. These results need confirmation in other populations with a larger sample size.