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The lactase persistence ‐13910C>T polymorphism shows indication of association with abdominal obesity among Portuguese children
Author(s) -
Albuquerque David,
Nóbrega Clévio,
Manco Licínio
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/apa.12134
Subject(s) - medicine , abdominal obesity , obesity , waist , odds ratio , body mass index , lactase , childhood obesity , demography , overweight , biology , lactose , biochemistry , sociology
Aim The ‐13910C>T single nucleotide polymorphism located upstream of the lactase gene ( LCT ) was found tightly associated with lactase persistence in European populations. Recently, it was also associated with body mass index ( BMI ) and obesity in European adults. The aim of this study was to test the association of ‐13910C>T polymorphism with obesity‐related traits and risk of obesity in children. Methods We genotyped 580 Portuguese children (6–12‐year‐olds) for the ‐13910C>T polymorphism using TaqMan probes by real‐time PCR . Anthropometric measurements were assessed in all children. Obesity was defined according to the International Obesity Task Force ( IOTF ) cut‐offs and abdominal obesity using the sex and age‐specific ≥90th waist circumference percentile. Results We found indication for an association between the‐13910*T allele and children abdominal obesity (odds ratio [ OR ] = 1.41; 95% confidence intervals [ CI ]: 1.03–1.94; p = 0.030). Under the dominant model, the indicative association was observed between the LCT ‐13910 CT / TT genotypes and abdominal obesity, remaining significant after adjustment for age and gender ( OR = 1.65; 95% CI : 1.04–2.60; p = 0.029). No association was detected with the risk of obesity (p = 0.350). Conclusion Our results suggest that the ‐13910C>T polymorphism may predispose to abdominal obesity in Portuguese children. The association with BMI or risk of obesity, previously observed in adults, was not confirmed.