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Associations between a polymorphism in the 11 beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type I gene and body composition

International Journal of Obesity volume 27, pages 983–986 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

We investigated 11 beta hydroxysteriod dehydrogenase type 1 (11βHSD-1) sequence variants in 103 healthy overweight (BMI >2 s.d.) and 160 nonoverweight (BMI –2 to +2 SD) children to examine the associations between body composition and 11βHSD-1 polymorphisms. A total of 4.3% of children were homozygous and 30.0% heterozygous for an adenine insertion in intron 3 (ins4436A). By ANCOVA (adjusting for age, sex, race, and height), BMI-s.d. differed according to ins4436A genotype (P<0.005), with the greatest BMI-SD for ins4436A homozygotes (mean ±s.d., 3.4±3.4, vs heterozygotes, 0.8±5.5, or wild-type, 1.8±7.5). Homozygotes also had greater waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and insulin resistance indices than heterozygote or wild-type children (all P<0.05), but no significant differences in trunk fat by DXA, or in serum lipids. We conclude an intronic 11βHSD-1 gene polymorphism is associated with greater body mass, altered body composition, and insulin resistance in children. 11βHSD-1 may be one of the genes relevant for pediatric-onset obesity and its complications.

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Acknowledgements

This study supported by NICHD, NIH Grant HD-000641 (JAY), and by the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities, NIH (JAY). Dr Yanovski is a Commissioned Officer in the US Public Health Service.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pediatric and Reproductive Endocrinology Branch, NICHD, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA

    L Gelernter-Yaniv & Z Hochberg

  2. Meyer Children's Hospital, Haifa, Israel

    L Gelernter-Yaniv & Z Hochberg

  3. Unit on Growth and Obesity, Developmental Endocrinology Branch, NICHD, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA

    N Feng, N G Sebring & J A Yanovski

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  1. L Gelernter-Yaniv
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  2. N Feng
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  3. N G Sebring
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  4. Z Hochberg
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  5. J A Yanovski
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Correspondence to J A Yanovski.

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Gelernter-Yaniv, L., Feng, N., Sebring, N. et al. Associations between a polymorphism in the 11 beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type I gene and body composition. Int J Obes 27, 983–986 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802327

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