CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY OF A MICROSATELLITE MARKER IN THE LOW-DENSITY-LIPOPROTEIN RECEPTOR GENE IN OBESE NORMOTENSIVES

1. The low density lipoprotein receptor is an important regulator of s erum cholesterol which may have implications for the development of bo th hypertension and obesity. In this study, genotypes for a low densit y lipoprotein receptor gene (LDLR) dinucleotide polymorphism were dete rmined in both lean and obese normotensive populations. 2. In previous cross-sectional association studies an AgaLI and a HincII polymorphis m for LDLR were shown to be associated with obesity in essential hyper tensives. However, these polymorphisms did not show an association wit h obesity in normotensives. 3. In contrast, this study reports that pr eliminary results for an LDLR microsatellite marker, located more towa rds the 3' end of the gene, show a significant association with obesit y in the normotensive population studied. These results indicate that LDLR could play an important role in the development of obesity, which might be independent of hypertension.