PPARD rs2016520 polymorphism is associated with metabolic traits in a large population of Chinese adults

•We analyzed the association risk of rs2016520 polymorphism for metabolic parameters in a large cohort of Chinese adults.•We found that polymorphism of rs2016520 was associated with fasting glucose and insulin, indices of insulin resistance.•The G allele of rs2016520 presented as a protective allele from metabolic risk factors.•These findings provide a deep understanding of PPARD polymorphism on the genetics of glucose homeostasis in the Han Chinese.

AimsPolymorphism of rs2016520 in gene PPARD has been associated with lipid metabolism, obesity, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We aimed to study the association of rs2016520 with common metabolic traits in a large population of Han Chinese adults.MethodsThe polymorphism was genotyped in 1409 subjects using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS); all participants underwent standard clinical examination and a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT); associations between the polymorphism and metabolic traits and indices of insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity were analyzed.ResultsThere was no significant difference in genotypes between the normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and the prediabetes group (χ2 = 3.17, P = 0.2), except a nominal difference of allele frequency (χ2 = 3.07, P = 0.07). The G carrier presented lower fasting plasma glucose (FPG, P = 0.03), lower 2 h plasma glucose (Pdom = 0.04) and lower fasting insulin (P = 0.02), lower systolic blood pressure (SBP, P = 0.03), lower HOMA-IR (P = 0.02) and higher QUICKI (P = 0.01). Moreover, rs2016520 polymorphism was associated with FPG (β = − 0.09, P = 0.05), it was also associated with indices of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR, β = − 0.06, Pdom = 0.02; fasting insulin, β = − 0.04, P = 0.02) and indices of insulin sensitivity (QUICKI, β = − 0.01, P = 0.004). In addition, we observed that the allele G was also associated with lower SBP (β = − 1.29, P = 0.04) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP, β = − 0.09, P = 0.01). However, the minor allele G was not associated with risk of metabolic disorders including prediabetes, overweight, hypertension and metabolic syndrome.ConclusionsPolymorphism of rs2016520 in gene PPARD was associated with benign metabolic traits in a large cohort of Chinese adults. The G allele may confer protection from type 2 diabetes and hypertension in Han Chinese.