OBJECTIVES

To investigate whether the -3826 A-G point mutation of the uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) gene and the Trp64Arg mutation of the beta3-adrenergic receptor (beta3-AR) gene are associated with increased susceptibility to weight gain and hyperlipidemia in postmenopausal women.

METHODS

We genotyped 312 Japanese women for UCP1 and beta3-AR gene polymorphisms, and investigated their effects on anthropometrical parameters, serum lipid concentrations, and their changes after 4 years.

RESULTS

Although body mass index (BMI), serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein levels were significantly higher and high-density lipoprotein levels significantly lower in postmenopausal (n=182) than in premenopausal (n=99) women, there was no significant difference in these parameters between carriers and non-carriers of the G allele in the postmenopausal women. In the premenopausal women, BMI and the 4-year change in body weight (BW) of carriers of the G allele were significantly higher than those of non-carriers of the G allele (P=0.022 and 0.048, respectively). In the postmenopausal women, the 4-year change in the level of serum triglyceride of carriers of the G allele was significantly higher (P=0.049), and the change of high-density lipoprotein was significantly lower (P=0.020) than those of non-carriers of the G allele. The beta3-AR polymorphism showed no apparent affect on these parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

The -3826 A-G polymorphism of the UCP1 gene is associated with an increase in BW of premenopausal women and with the 4-year changes in serum triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein levels in postmenopausal women.