Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Genome-wide association studies have identified 32 loci influencing body mass index, but this measure does not distinguish lean from fat mass. To identify adiposity loci, we meta-analyzed associations between ∼2.5 million SNPs and body fat percentage from 36,626 individuals and followed up the 14 most significant (P < 10(-6)) independent loci in 39,576 individuals. We confirmed a previously established adiposity locus in FTO (P = 3 × 10(-26)) and identified two new loci associated with body fat percentage, one near IRS1 (P = 4 × 10(-11)) and one near SPRY2 (P = 3 × 10(-8)). Both loci contain genes with potential links to adipocyte physiology. Notably, the body-fat-decreasing allele near IRS1 is associated with decreased IRS1 expression and with an impaired metabolic profile, including an increased visceral to subcutaneous fat ratio, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, risk of diabetes and coronary artery disease and decreased adiponectin levels. Our findings provide new insights into adiposity and insulin resistance.

Original publication

DOI

10.1038/ng.866

Type

Journal article

Journal

Nature genetics

Publication Date

26/06/2011

Volume

43

Pages

753 - 760

Addresses

Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge, UK.

Keywords

Humans, Obesity, Body Weight, Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins, Membrane Proteins, Body Mass Index, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Alleles, Female, Male, Subcutaneous Fat, Adiposity, Body Fat Distribution, Adiponectin, Meta-Analysis as Topic, Genetic Variation, Genome-Wide Association Study, Metabolome, Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins