The PPARgamma Pro12Ala polymorphism is not associated with body mass index or waist circumference among Hispanics from Colorado.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: First to determine if body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference (WC) differ by possession of the Ala allele of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) Pro12Ala polymorphism, and second, to determine if dietary fat intake and physical activity moderate these potential relationships among Hispanic Americans from Colorado.

METHODS

We studied 216 Hispanic pedigrees (1,850 nuclear families) from the San Luis Valley and Denver (mean age 50 years). The families were genotyped for the Pro12Ala polymorphism of the PPARgamma gene. BMI, WC and diabetes status were measured in the clinic, and, for diabetics, self-reported BMI at diabetes diagnosis was used. Data were analyzed using the Family-Based Association Test (FBAT). We conducted overall and stratified analyses by tertiles of monounsaturated, polyunsaturated (PUFA) and saturated (SFA) fat intake, the PUFA:SFA ratio, and physical activity. We also used generalized estimating equations (GEE) to further explore the FBAT findings.

RESULTS

The average BMI and WC were approximately 29 kg/m(2) and 101 cm, respectively. The frequency of the Ala allele was 13.5%. We did not find the Ala allele to be associated with BMI or WC overall (p = 0.58 and 0.23, respectively). We did find the Ala allele to be associated with increased BMI in those with high dietary PUFA and PUFA:SFA ratio (p = 0.007 and 0.01, respectively); however, these findings were not confirmed using the GEE models.

CONCLUSIONS

One previous study has reported the Ala allele to be associated with higher BMI among Hispanics; however, we did not find this association. Further, we could not conclude that dietary fat intake or physical activity altered any association between BMI or WC and the Ala allele.