No association of LEPR Gln223Arg polymorphism with leptin, obesity or metabolic disturbances in children

OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to investigate whether the Gln223Arg in the leptin receptor may influence body weight, leptin concentration, and metabolic parameters in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS The examined group included 101 obese children (58 girls and 43 boys) with BMI 31.41 +/-5.03 kg/m(2) (BMI > or = 2 SDS) and the control group consisted of 41 children with BMI 20.0 +/-0.80 kg/m2 (BMI <1.0 SDS). Polymorphism identification was performed in total genomic DNA using PCR-RFLP method. RESULTS The distribution of genotypes LEPR was the following: in the obese group: AA - 20.8%, AG- 55.4%, GG-23.8 %; in the control group AA-31.7%, AG- 53.65%, GG-14.65%. Comparative analyses between AA homozygous children and carriers of G alleles did not confirm any relation between the analyzed polymorphism and BMI, leptin concentrations, and metabolic disturbances in children with obesity. CONCLUSION In children with obesity we did not observe association of the LEPR Gln223Arg gene polymorphism with obesity, leptin, insulin resistance, and metabolic abnormalities.