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Integrative Biology

Are endocannabinoid type 1 receptor gene (CNR1) polymorphisms associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal Polish women?

International Journal of Obesity volume 35, pages 373–377 (2011)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

The aim of this study was to determine whether genetic variation at the cannabinoid receptor-1 (CNR1) locus could have an effect on adiposity, fat distribution and obesity-related metabolic disorders in Polish postmenopausal women.

Design and Subjects:

The A3813G (rs12720071), G1422A (rs1049353), A4895G (rs806368) and rs806381, rs10485170, rs6454674 and rs2023239 single-nucleotide polymorphisms of CNR1 were genotyped in 348 randomly selected postmenopausal women aged 50–60 years recruited from the Wroclaw city population.

Measurements:

CNR1 genotypes, anthropometric measures (body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and body fat distribution by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry) and metabolic parameters (glucose, lipid profile and Fasting Insulin Resistance Index for insulin resistance) were determined.

Results:

The 3813G allele was not significantly associated with higher body mass, BMI, WC, total fat or fat percentage, but was associated with higher android fat deposit (2971.78±1655.08 vs 2472.64±1300.53, P=0.007) and percentage of android fat (37.59±8.45 vs 35.66±7.63, P=0.062). No associations for the G1422A, A4895G, rs806381, rs10485170, rs6454674 and rs2023239 variants were observed.

Conclusions:

There is an association of the variants of CNR1 with obesity-related phenotypes in Polish postmenopausal women. As cannabinoid receptor type 1 is a drug target for obesity, pharmacogenetic receptor gene analysis of obesity treatment by endocannabinoid blockade may be of interest to identify the best responders.

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Acknowledgements

The work was supported by the grant number ST-143 of the Polish Ministry of Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Isotope Treatment, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland

    A Milewicz, U Tworowska-Bardzińska, D Jędrzejuk, Ł Łaczmański & M Pawlak

  2. Department of Health Promotion, University School of Physical Education, Wroclaw, Poland

    F Lwow & K Dunajska

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  1. A Milewicz
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Correspondence to K Dunajska.

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Milewicz, A., Tworowska-Bardzińska, U., Jędrzejuk, D. et al. Are endocannabinoid type 1 receptor gene (CNR1) polymorphisms associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal Polish women?. Int J Obes 35, 373–377 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2010.145

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