Association of a cholesteryl ester transfer protein variant (rs1800777) with fat mass, HDL cholesterol levels, and metabolic syndrome

Abstract Background There is little evidence of the association between CETP SNPs and obesity and/or related metabolic parameters. Objective To analyze the association of the polymorphism rs1800777 of the CETP gene with anthropometric parameters, lipid profile, metabolic syndrome and its components, and adipokine levels in obese subjects without type 2 diabetes mellitus or hypertension. Design A population of 1005 obese subjects was analyzed. Electrical bioimpedance was performed, and blood pressure, presence of metabolic syndrome, dietary intake, physical activity, and biochemical tests were recorded. Results Nine hundred and sixty eight patients (96.3%) had the GG genotype, 37 patients the GA genotype (3.7%) (no AA genotype was detected). Fat mass (delta: 4.4 ± 1.1 kg; p  = 0.04), waist circumference (delta: 5.6 ± 2.1 cm; p  = 0.02), and waist to hip ratio (delta: 0.04 ± 0.01 cm; p  = 0.01) were higher in A allele carriers than in non-A allele carriers. HDL cholesterol levels were lower in A allele carriers than in non-A allele carriers (delta: 4.2 ± 1.0 mg/dL; p  = 0.04). In the logistic regression analysis, the GA genotype was associated to an increased risk of central obesity (OR 7.55, 95% CI 1.10–55.70, p  = 0.02) and low HDL cholesterol levels (OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.23–4.91, p  = 0.014). Conclusion The CETP variant at position +82 is associated to lower HDL cholesterol levels, increased fat mass, and central obesity in obese subjects. These results may suggest a potential role of this variant gene in pathophysiology of adipose tissue.