Association between polymorphisms in candidate genes and morbid obesity

Polymorphisms in a number of candidate genes have been reported to be assoc iated with obesity. We have determined the incidence of the following polym orphisms in the following candidate genes in a group of 388 morbid obese pa tients (mean body mass index (BMI) 52 +/-8.01) who underwent gastric bandin g surgery: lipoprotein lipase (LpL) t-93g and N291S; peroxisome proliferato r receptor gamma (PPAR gamma), P12A, P115Q and c1431t; peroxisome prolifera tor receptor alpha (PPAR alpha) L162V; beta -adrenergic receptor 2 (beta -A R 2), Q27E; beta -adrenergic receptor 3 (beta -AR 3) W64R; uncoupling prote in 1 (ucp-1), a-3826g, ucp-2 45 bp insertion. Only for the ucp2 polymorphis m did we find a statistically significant association with obesity. The bet a -AR 3 W64R and ucp-1 a-3826g polymorphisms influenced the rate of the dev elopment of obesity and may act synergistically.