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  • Original Article
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Neuropeptide Y gene polymorphisms are not associated with obesity in a South Indian population

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) gene has been shown to have a critical role in the regulation of satiety, reproduction, central endocrine and cardiovascular systems. Among the primary functions associated with NPY are its acute effects on feeding behavior and energy expenditure. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between obesity and NPY gene polymorphisms in a South Indian Population.

Subjects/Methods:

Three polymorphisms in NPY gene (Leu7Pro, Ser50Ser and A7735G) were analyzed in 263 individuals of an endogamous Kota population. On the basis of body mass index (BMI), they were divided into two groups. Associations were tested using logistic regression and haplotype analyses and linkage disequilibrium (LD).

Results:

There was no evidence of deviation from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. Logistic regression analysis did not reveal significant association with obesity and NPY single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the present study. All three SNPs were in weak LD with low r2 values. Haplotype analysis also did not yield significant association between NPY gene and obesity (global P=0.756).

Conclusions:

Our study did not validate the association between previously implicated SNPs in NPY gene and obesity in an Indian population. Population-specific validation of putative associations has far reaching implications for the future personal genomics medicine applications.

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Acknowledgements

This project was supported by the grant from the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India (grant no. BT/PR3607/SPD/09/261/2003).

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Correspondence to V R Rao.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Contributors: VRR, KT and LS conceived and designed the study. LVKSB conducted field work, collected blood samples and performed the SNP genotyping and its analysis. KPK and GP participated in SNP genotyping. The paper was written by LVKSB and VRR. In addition, KT and LS actively contributed to discussion of the results of this paper. All authors read and approved the final paper.

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Bhaskar, L., Thangaraj, K., Pardhasaradhi, G. et al. Neuropeptide Y gene polymorphisms are not associated with obesity in a South Indian population. Eur J Clin Nutr 64, 868–872 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2010.74

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