Relationship of PPARgamma2 polymorphism with obesity and metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal Polish women.

OBJECTIVE: The contribution of genetic factors to the development of menopausal obesity has been widely recognized. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is involved in adipocyte differentiation and has been suggested to influence insulin sensitivity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of Pro12Ala PPARγ polymorphism and its association with body mass index (BMI) and metabolic syndrome parameters in postmenopausal Polish women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was performed in 318 postmenopausal women aged 50-60 years randomly selected from the Wroclaw city population with BMI ranging from 17.5 to 46.38 kg/m 2 (mean BMI 27.5±4.78 kg/m 2 ). Anthropometric parameters, body composition (total body fat, android and gynoid deposits, using DXA) and biochemical parameters (lipid profile, glucose, and insulin levels) were measured and QUICKI was calculated. PPARγ genotyping was performed by PCR and minisequencing using an ABI 310 sequencer (Applied Biosystems). RESULTS: The Pro12Ala genotype was found in 26% of the women, but Ala12Ala only in 4%. Metabolic syndrome was recognized in 16% of all the women, 14% of the women with Pro12Pro genotype, 21% of the Pro12Ala carriers, and 14% of the women with the Ala12Ala variant. Obese women with at least one Ala allele (X/Ala genotype) showed higher serum levels of total cholesterol (265.7±44.5 mg/dl vs. 233.2±38.1 mg/dl, p<0.001), LDL cholesterol (171.8±37.8 mg/dl vs. 143.7±34.8 mg/dl; p<0.001), and triglycerides (149.4±55.2 mg/dl vs. 126.8±54.2 mg/dl, p<0.05) compared with the women with the Pro12Pro genotype. CONCLUSIONS:The Pro12Ala PPARγ polymorphism does not seem to be associated with BMI or metabolic syndrome parameters in postmenopausal Polish women, although the X/Ala genotype seems to predispose to a less favorable lipid profile in this population.