Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma 2 Pro12Ala gene variant is strongly associated with larger body mass in the Taiwanese

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma 2 (PPAR gamma 2) has b een studied extensively because of its putative role in adipocyte different iation and insulin sensitivity. The association of the Pro12Ala and Pro115G ln PPAR gamma 2 gene variants with type 2 diabetes mellitus, the body mass index (BMI), and other diabetes-related phenotypes was examined in the Taiw anese population. Genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction (P CR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. Allele fr equencies were compared between 280 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 310 subjects without diabetes using the chi-square test. Continuous phe notype analysis was performed by multiple logistic regression adjusting for age and BMI where appropriate. There was no significant association betwee n the Pro12Ala gene variant and type 2 diabetes; the frequency of the Ala12 allele was 0.03 in type 2 diabetics and 0.04 in nondiabetics (P = .40). Th e Gln115 allele was not detected in any of the cases or controls. In multip le linear regression analysis of all cases and controls combined adjusted f or age, sex, and diabetic status, carriers of the Ala12 allele had a mean B MI of 25.9 +/- 0.5 kg/m(2) (mean +/- SE), compared with 24.2 +/- 0.1 kg/m(2 ) in Pro12 homozygotes (P < .001). In addition, carriers of the Ala12 allel e have a 2.9 times (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5 to 5.5) higher odds o f having a BMI of at least 25 kg/m(2). These results suggest that in the Ta iwanese, the Pro12Ala PPAR gamma 2 gene variant may contribute to fat accum ulation and a higher BMI independent of type 2 diabetes. These results need to be confirmed in future studies, as a linkage disequilibrium of this var iant with other mutations cannot be ruled out. Copyright (C) 2000 by W.B. S aunders Company.