308 Nco I polymorphism of tumour necrosis factor α in overweight Caucasians

• Published in: Diabetes research and clinical practice 2003-12, Vol.62 (3), p.197-201
• Main Authors: Morris, Alison M., Heilbronn, Leonie K., Noakes, Manny, Kind, Karen L., Clifton, Peter M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Australia; Base Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; Body Mass Index; Diabetes Mellitus - genetics; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - genetics; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Diet, Reducing; DNA Primers; DNA-Cytosine Methylases; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Energy Intake; European Continental Ancestry Group - genetics; Female; Heterozygote; Homozygote; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Obesity; Obesity - genetics; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide - genetics; Promoter Regions, Genetic - genetics; Reference Values; Sequence Deletion - genetics; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - genetics; Tumour necrosis factor alpha polymorphism; Weight loss; Weight Loss - genetics
• ISSN: 0168-8227; 1872-8227
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2003.08.002

We investigated whether a polymorphism in the promoter region of the TNFα gene (−308 A /G) is associated with reduced weight loss in obese Australian subjects on an energy restricted diet. 189 healthy subjects and 91 subjects with type II diabetes were genotyped for the −308 Nco I polymorphism using PCR-RFLP techniques. A subset of these subjects (211 females and 45 males), were placed on a 30% energy restricted diet (6200 kJ) for 12 weeks. Subjects were assessed every 2 weeks and changes in body weight, waist circumference and BMI were used as determinants of weight loss. Fasting plasma was analysed for glucose, insulin, lipids and free fatty acids. 64% of subjects were GG homozygotes, 31% were AG heterozygotes and 5% were AA homozygotes. There was no significant difference between the allele frequency in healthy subjects (0.21) and type 2 diabetic patients (0.24). The presence of the −308 A/ G polymorphism did not significantly influence initial BMI, the amount of weight lost ( GG, 8.1±0.65 kg, AG, 6.9±0.77 kg, AA, 7.6±0.12 kg), waist circumference or any metabolic variable. The AA variant at position −308 in the promoter region of the TNFα gene does not influence the amount of weight lost in overweight and obese men and women on a 30% energy restricted diet.