Visceral fat accumulation and metabolic syndrome in children: the impact of T rp64 A rg polymorphism of the beta3‐adrenergic receptor gene

Aim To investigate the association between T rp64 A rg polymorphism of the beta3‐adrenergic receptor ( ADRB3 ) gene and total fat mass, abdominal fat distribution, other metabolic derangements and metabolic syndrome ( MS ) in J apanese children. Methods Molecular screening of the ADRB3 gene polymorphism ( T rp64 T rp, T rp64 A rg and A rg64 A rg) was carried out in 132 children aged 6–12 years: 73 were obese (45 boys) and 59 were not obese (27 boys). Visceral fat ( VF ) and subcutaneous fat ( SF ) area were measured using magnetic resonance imaging, blood pressure, lipid and glucose profiles. Results The frequencies of A rg carriers ( T rp64 A rg or A rg64 A rg) were significantly higher in obese children with MS , compared to obese children without MS and nonobese children. In obese children, A rg carriers had significantly higher VF area, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride than A rg noncarriers ( T rp64 T rp). However, there were no differences in total fat mass and SF area between the two groups. In nonobese children, none of these parameters differed significantly between A rg carriers and noncarriers. Conclusion T rp64 A rg polymorphism of the ADRB3 gene may affect VF accumulation and be associated with MS , a cluster of conditions involving aggravated lipid metabolism and higher blood pressure, in J apanese children.