Impact of Leptin Receptor Gene GLN223ARG Polymorphism on Obesity in Jeddah City

Obesity is a major global epidemic problem. Obesity results from the combined effects of genes, environment, lifestyle and the interactions of these factors. The leptin receptor gene plays a critical role in the regulation of body weight. Genetic variations of leptin receptor gene may play a role in the pathophysiology of human obesity. In this study, the association between the LepR gene polymorphism and obesity in Jeddah population was evaluated by determine the distribution of alleles frequency of the leptin receptor GLN223ARG polymorphism in 180 volunteers (94 males & 86 females). Each gender was divided into 2 groups: Children and Teenager (6-17 years old), and Adults (18-27 years old). As well as each group were divided into 2 sub-groups according to BMI obese and non obese (control). When comparison the obese and non obese groups, results demonstrated that no significant difference between genotype distribution and body mass index (BMI), weight, hip, waist and waist-hip ratio (WHR). In contrast, there was a significant increase in GG genotype (OR= 19.11, 95%CI: 0.95-384.95, P= 0.01) compared to AA genotype, and GG genotype (OR= 25.24, 95%CI: 1.25-509.46, P= 0.006) compared to AG genotype in males children and teenagers, which suggests that genetic polymorphisms (GLN223ARG) of leptin receptor gene may play a role in prevalence of obesity in children and teenagers males group. [Sabah A. Linjawi and Noor A. Hussain. Impact of Leptin Receptor Gene GLN223ARG Polymorphism on Obesity in Jeddah City. Life Sci J 2012;9(4):818-828] (ISSN:1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 128 Key word: Obesity, Leptin receptor gene, Jeddah city, weight, waist.