Variations in the fat mass and obesity–associated (FTO) gene are related to glucose levels and higher lipid accumulation product in postmenopausal women from southern Brazil

ObjectiveTo test the association between polymorphisms rs9939609 T>A and rs8050136 A>C of the fat mass and obesity–associated (FTO) gene and metabolic and cardiovascular variables in postmenopause.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingUniversity hospital.Patient(s)A total of 135 postmenopausal women (mean age 52 ± 4 years).Intervention(s)Anthropometric measurements and collection of blood samples.Main Outcome Measure(s)Blood pressure, metabolic variables, and FTO genotype.Result(s)The frequency of polymorphism rs9939609 was 43.7% for the wild TT genotype, 43.0% for TA, and 13.3% for AA. The frequency of the rs8050136 polymorphism was 12.6% for the wild AA genotype, 39.3% for AC, and 48.1% for CC. The polymorphic AA genotype of the SNP rs9939609 was associated with higher glucose levels and lipid accumulation product (LAP) index, whereas the wild AA genotype of the SNP rs8050136 was associated with higher LAP.Conclusion(s)The rs9939609 polymorphism in the FTO gene is related to abnormal glucose levels and with LAP, a surrogate marker of diabetes and cardiovascular risk in postmenopause. Further studies are needed in different ethnic backgrounds to confirm the clinical relevance of these associations.