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  • Original Article
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Polymorphisms in the NPY and AGRP genes and body fatness in Dutch adults

International Journal of Obesity volume 30, pages 1522–1528 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To investigate the association between DNA polymorphisms in the NPY and AGRP genes and body fatness.

Design and methods:

The association between the AGRP Ala67Thr or the NPY Leu7Pro polymorphisms and indicators of body fatness (baseline leptin levels, body mass index (BMI) values and prevalence of overweight) are investigated in 582 participants of two large cohorts in The Netherlands (total 18 500 adult men and women), aged 20–40 years whose weight remained relatively constant or whose weight increased substantially (range 5.5–47 kg) during a mean follow-up of 7 years.

Results:

No consistent associations were found for the indicators of body fatness for men and women. Among women, BMI values, leptin levels and prevalence of overweight were not statistically different for carriers of the mutant alleles compared to that of the non-carriers. Among men, carriers of the Thr67-allele of the AGRP gene had similar leptin levels, but higher BMI values compared to those with the genotyping Ala67/Ala67: mean adjusted BMI 25.6 kg/m2 (95% CI 24.3–27.0) vs 23.9 kg/m2 (23.6–24.3). Also, the risk of being overweight at baseline tended to be higher for male carriers of the Thr67-allele of the AGRP gene (OR 2.52; 95% CI 0.86–7.4). Furthermore, male carriers of the Pro7-allele of the NPY gene had on average higher leptin levels and BMI values vs non-carriers of this allele: 4.7 μg/l (95% CI 3.7–6.0) and 25.7 kg/m2 (95% CI 24.4–27.0) vs 3.1 μg/l (95% CI 2.9–3.4) and 23.9 kg/m2 (95% CI 23.5–24.3), respectively. These male carriers had also a higher risk on being overweight at baseline (OR 3.3 (95% CI 1.2–8.9)) compared to non-carriers of the Pro7-allele.

Conclusion:

The consistent findings among men suggest that the NPY Leu7Pro polymorphism (or another linked marker) might be involved in the development of obesity at younger ages. The findings for the AGRP Ala67Thr were less consistent and need further investigation. Among women, these polymorphisms do not play an important role.

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Acknowledgements

The Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factor Monitoring Study (PEILSTATION) and the Monitoring Project on Risk Factors for Chronic Diseases (MORGEN-project) was financially supported by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport of The Netherlands and the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment. We thank the epidemiologists and field workers of the Municipal Health Services in Doetinchem and Maastricht for their important contribution to the data collection for this study. We also thank GL Obermann-de Boer for co-ordinating the PEILSTATION-project. The project steering committee of MORGEN project consisted of Dr HB Bueno de Mesquita, Dr HA Smit, Dr WMM Verschuren and Dr JC Seidell. Project leader of the follow-up measurements in Maastricht was Dr EJM Feskens. Logistic management was provided by A Jansen and J Steenbrink and data management by A Blokstra, P Steinberger and A van Kessel. Furthermore, we gratefully acknowledge L ‘t Hart, T Vink and M Achachah who performed the PCR analyses, and J Senden who performed the measurements of the leptin levels. CTM van Rossum is supported by the Dutch Scientific Organisation (NWO).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Nutrition and Health, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands

    C T M van Rossum

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

    H Pijl

  3. Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    R A H Adan

  4. Laboratory of Toxicology, Pathology and Genetics, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands

    B Hoebee

  5. Department for Nutrition and Health, Free University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    J C Seidell

Authors
  1. C T M van Rossum
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  2. H Pijl
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  3. R A H Adan
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  4. B Hoebee
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  5. J C Seidell
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to C T M van Rossum.

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van Rossum, C., Pijl, H., Adan, R. et al. Polymorphisms in the NPY and AGRP genes and body fatness in Dutch adults. Int J Obes 30, 1522–1528 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803314

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