A Trp 64 Arg mutation in the beta(3)-adrenergic receptor gene is not associated with moderate overweight in Japanese workers

The aim of the present study was to investigate the trend for obesity and t he relationship between Trp64Arg mutation in the beta(3)-adrenergic recepto r gene and obesity-related phenotypes in Japanese workers. A fetal of 658 w orkers, 483 women and 175 men, responded to this survey. Genomic DNA was pr epared from leukocytes, and DNA amplification by polymerase chain reaction was performed using 100 ng genomic DNA. Amplified fragments were digested w ith BstNI and analyzed by 3% agarose gel electrophoresis. The body mass ind ex (BMI) increased from 21.1 +/- 2.6 to 22.0 +/- 3.0 kg/m(2) for women and from 20.9 +/- 2.1 to 22.1 +/- 2.6 kg/m(2) for men from 1982 to 1997. Body w eight increased 63.3% for women and 67.4% for men over 15 years. The freque ncy of the Trp64Arg allele was 19.9%, and the frequency of heterozygote and homozygote carriers of the mutation was 32.9% and 3.4%, respectively. chan ges in the BMI and body weight over 15 years from 1982 to 1997 did not diff er significantly between subjects with or without the mutant allele in eith er women or men. The BMI was not significantly higher in subjects who were homozygous or heterozygous for the Trp64Arg mutation versus subjects who we re homozygous far the normal allele. This mutation of the beta(3)-adrenergi c receptor gene is not likely a major determinant of moderate obesity in th e Japanese population. Copyright (C) 1998 by W.B. Saunders Company.