The FTO variant is associated with chronic complications of diabetes mellitus in Czech population

Abstract Background Genome-wide association studies have resulted in the identification of the FTO gene as an important genetic determinant of diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to confirm the role of this gene in the development of DM in the Czech-Slavonic population and to analyse whether this gene is associated with common DM complications. Methods Two groups of patients (814 with T1DM and 848 with T2DM) and a group of healthy controls (2339 individuals) – both of Czech origin – were genotyped for the FTO rs17817449 SNP. ANOVA and logistic regression were used for the statistical evaluations. Results The frequency of the GG genotype was significantly higher in T2DM (25.4% vs. 16.7%, P  FTO genotype predicted the development of diabetic neuropathy (GG vs. TT comparison; P  FTO genotype and development of retinopathy was detected. All presented values are after adjustment for age, sex, BMI and duration of diabetes. Conclusions We confirm the association between the FTO rs17817449 SNP and susceptibility to T2DM in the Czech-Slavonic population. The same variant is associated with a spectrum of chronic complications in both types of diabetes.