Distribution of obesity-associated gene polymorphisms among Chinese population born in early 1960s

  Objective  To describe the distribution of obesity-associated gene polymorphisms among Chinese population born in the year of 1960 – 1961 and 1963, and to provide evidences for obesity prevention.

  Methods  A total of 1 982 people (770 males and 1 212 females) born in the year of 1960 – 1961 and 1963 were selected from the participants of China National Nutrition and Health Surveillance conducted in 2010 – 2012. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of 10 obesity-associated genes were detected with time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

  Results  No significant gender differences were observed in the SNP of the 10 genes (P > 0.05 for all). Significantly higher frequency of risk allele of rs11030104 and rs6265 were detected among minority ethnic participants than among Han participants (χ² = 16.185, χ² = 12.962; both P < 0.001). Compared to those in published international studies, significant racial differences were observed in the distributions of SNP of the risk alleles among the participants for following loci: rs11030104, rs1558902, rs6265, and rs9939609 compared to a population in Tokyo of Japan (all P < 0.05); rs11030104, rs16892496, rs2568958, rs6265, rs7561317, and rs7832552 in contrast to the descendants of Western Europeans and Nordics in Utah of the United States (all P < 0.01); rs11030104, rs16892496, rs2568958, rs574367, rs6265, rs7561317, rs7832552, and rs9939609 in comparison to the descendants of Africans in southwest region of the United States (all P < 0.05); and rs11030104、rs1558902, rs2568958, rs574367, rs6265, and rs9939609 compared to a population in Los Angeles of the United States (all P < 0.01).

  Conclusion  There is no significant gender differences in the SNP of the 10 obesity-associated genes among Chinese populations born in early 1960′s but there is a ethnic difference in the two loci of risk alleles between the minority and Han population. There are racial differences in the risk allele frequency and the frequencies for the majority of the 10 obesity-associated genes are higher among the Chinese population than those among other racial groups in foreign countries.