FTO gene polymorphisms and platelet counts in a general Japanese population.

The fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene has recently attracted attention as one of the obesity-related genes. Obesity-related gene polymorphisms may be associated with the development of atherothrombosis in relation to platelets. The present study investigated the association between FTO gene polymorphisms (rs1558902, T/A) and hematological parameters, in particular the platelet counts. Anthropometric, hematological, and biochemical parameters, in addition to genotyping by an allele-specific DNA assay, were measured in 209 asymptomatic community-dwelling Japanese subjects (male/female: 80/129; mean age, 65 years; mean [SD] body mass index, 24.0 [3.0] kg/m 2 ). The subjects with the A-allele (n = 73) showed significantly higher platelet counts than those without the A-allele (mean [SD], 237 [58] vs 217 [57] × 10 9 /L, P