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FTO gene polymorphisms and obesity risk in Chinese population: a meta-analysis

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Abstract

Background

There is tremendous increase in obesity worldwide. Many factors including diet, life style, genetic, and epigenetic changes contribute to obesity. The fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene polymorphisms are strongly associated with obesity. It has been reported that FTO single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are associated with obesity in European populations; however, it was controversial in Chinese population. The present meta-analysis study was designed to investigate the association between FTO polymorphisms and obesity risk in Chinese population.

Methods

The investigators searched studies using the following databases: PubMed, web of science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. A random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled odds ratios (ORs). The heterogeneity among the studies was measured by I2 value. Subgroup analysis was used to find out the potential factors influencing the heterogeneity.

Results

A total of 18 articles including 26 studies were included in the present meta-analysis. Overall, the FTO SNPs were significantly associated with obesity in Chinese population (OR 1.30; 95% CI 1.19–1.42; P < 0.001) under per-allele comparison. The subgroup analysis also showed strong association between four FTO SNPs (rs9939609, rs6499640, rs8050136, and rs1558902) and obesity risk. Furthermore, subgroup analysis stratified by children/adolescent and adult groups showed same trend.

Conclusion

The present meta-analysis indicated that FTO SNPs are associated with obesity risk in both children/adolescents and adults in Chinese population.

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Funding

National Key Research and Development Programme of China (No. 2016YFC1305301), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 81570759 and 81270938), Zhejiang Provincial Key Science and Technology Project (No. 2014C03045-2), Key Disciplines of Medicine (Innovation discipline,11-CX24) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2017XZZX001-01).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology, Children’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 3333, Binsheng Road, Hangzhou, 310052, China

    Ning-Ning Zhao, Guan-Ping Dong, Wei Wu, Jin-Ling Wang, Rahim Ullah & Jun-Fen Fu

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  1. Ning-Ning Zhao
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  2. Guan-Ping Dong
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  3. Wei Wu
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  4. Jin-Ling Wang
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  5. Rahim Ullah
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  6. Jun-Fen Fu
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Contributions

J-FF is the principal investigator. N-NZ designed the study and developed the analysis plan. N-NZ and WW analyzed the data and performed meta-analysis. N-NZ and G-PD contributed in writing of the article. J-LW revised the manuscript, RU polished the language.

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Correspondence to Jun-Fen Fu.

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Zhao, NN., Dong, GP., Wu, W. et al. FTO gene polymorphisms and obesity risk in Chinese population: a meta-analysis. World J Pediatr 15, 382–389 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12519-019-00254-2

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