Common variant in FUT2 gene is associated with levels of vitamin B(12) in Indian population

• Published in: Gene 2013-02, Vol.515 (1), p.224-228
• Main Authors: Tanwar, Vinay Singh, Chand, Mandeep P, Kumar, Jitender, Garg, Gaurav, Seth, Sandeep, Karthikeyan, Ganesan, Sengupta, Shantanu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Alleles; European Continental Ancestry Group - genetics; Genetic Association Studies; Genotype; Humans; India; Middle Aged; mRNA Cleavage and Polyadenylation Factors; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Polynucleotide Adenylyltransferase - genetics; Vitamin B 12 - blood; Vitamin B 12 - metabolism
• ISSN: 1879-0038
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2012.11.021

Vitamin B(12) is an essential micronutrient synthesized by microorganisms. Mammals including humans have evolved ways for transport and absorption of this vitamin. Deficiency of vitamin B(12) (either due to low intake or polymorphism in genes involved in absorption and intracellular transport of this vitamin) has been associated with various complex diseases. Genome-wide association studies have recently identified several common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in fucosyl transferase 2 gene (FUT2) to be associated with levels of vitamin B(12)-the strongest association was with a non-synonymous SNP rs602662 in this gene. In the present study, we attempted to replicate the association of this SNP (rs602662) in an Indian population since a significant proportion has been reported to have low levels of vitamin B(12) in this population. A total of 1146 individuals were genotyped for this SNP using a single base extension method and association with levels of vitamin B(12) was assessed in these individuals. Regression analysis was performed to analyze the association considering various confounding factors like for age, sex, diet, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease status. We found that the SNP rs602662 was significantly associated with the levels of vitamin B(12) (p value