Investigation of the role of lipoprotein A RS10455872 gene polymophism in the development of childhood obesity

Childhood obesity emerges as a serious health problem that is increasing day by day. Especially in obese children, diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases are found at higher rates. Genetic, behavioral, metabolic and hormonal effects play a role on body weight. Nowadays, the role of genetic factors and polymorphisms has increased in the studies, many diseases are evaluated in terms of risk factors and prospective treatment approaches are developed. Although obesity is one of the most common causes of admission to outpatient clinics in childhood, its etiology is not yet known. It is a current debate that genetic polymorphisms may play a role in susceptibility of obesity. In this context, it is important to evaluate the effects of genetic factors and polymorphisms in terms of early diagnosis and prevention of obesity in children. Our aim in this study is to evaluate the relationship between rs10455872 gene polymorphism in the Lipoprotein (a) locus, which is thought to have a role in the development of childhood obesity. Aged between 6-18 years of 103 obese volunteers and 77 healthy volunteers without any acute or chronic disease were included in the study. Our study has carried out out on a voluntary basis and prospective way. During the study, a detailed physical examination was performed after taking a detailed anamnesis. Anthropometric measurements of the participants were carried out using traditional and new methods. Anthropometric measurements, laboratory tests and TANITA measurements of the patients were recorded. Two different groups were created as obese patients and healthy control group. The distribution of lipoprotein (a) rs10455872 gene polymorphism was similar in obese and healthy children (p=0.563). In our study, children with AG genotype in the obese group had lower BMI, waist/hip circumference, DONMA I, DONMA II, HOMA, body fat ratio, BMR, fasting blood glucose, insulin, HbA1c, total cholesterol, CRP, serum iron binding capacity and metabolic syndrome index values than the children with normal genotype. In the obese group, head/neck circumference, serum iron, ferritin, vitamin D, folate, vitamin B12, erythrocyte count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, MCH and MCHC values were found to be higher than those of the children with the normal genotype. In the control group, children with AG genotype had lower BMI, DONMA II, SII index, body fat rate, HbA1c, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, AST, ALT, CRP and metabolic syndrome index values compared to children with normal genotype. In the control group, HDL levels of children with AG genotype were found to be higher than children with normal genotype. A significant difference was found between the metabolic syndrome index and body fat ratio among obese children with normal homozygous genotype. It was determined that the metabolic syndrome index increased as the body fat ratio increased in obese children with normal homozygous genotype. There was not any significant differences between metabolic syndrome index and body fat ratio in between obese children who has heterozygous AG genotype. This study strengthens the idea that children with the AG genotype plays a role as a good risk factor for obesity. As a result of a detailed and extensive literature review, it was determined that the lipoprotein (a) rs10455872 gene polymorphism for the etiology of childhood obesity has not been studied before. Our study is the first original study to report the results of the fact that cases with polymorphism with AG genotype can be considered as a good risk factor for obesity and the metabolic syndrome index in normal homozygous obese children increases as the body fat ratio increases, but the same relationship between metabolic syndrome index and body fat ratio is not observed in heterozygous AG obese children. Key words: Childhood, Obesity, Lipoprotein A, Polymorphism