The N363S polymorphism in the glucocorticoid receptor gene: effects on visceral fat assessed by abdominal computed tomography

Author(s)

Cercato, Cintia ^[1] ; Halpern, Alfredo ^[1] ; Frazzatto, Eliana S. T. ^[2] ; Guazzelli, Izabel Cristina ^[2] ; Ferreira Villares, Sandra Mara ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] HC FMUSP, Grp Obesidade & Sindrome Metab, Serv Endocrinol & Metab, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] FMUSP, Lab Nutr Humana & Doencas Metab LIM 25, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Arquivos Brasileiros de Endocrinologia e Metabologia; v. 53, n. 2, p. 288-292, MAR 2009.
• Web of Science Citations: 3

Abstract

Objective: To verify whether N363S polymorphism of the glucocorticoid receptor-gene can be associated to visceral fat by CT scan in obese individuals, and the impact of this variant on metabolic profile. Methods:The N363S variant was screened in 295 Brazilians, 195 were obese and 100 presented normal weight. Based on genotype, obese N363S SNIP carriers were paired with obese wild-type subjects. This group was submitted to a CT scan and metabolic profile assessment. Results: Ten subjects were found to be heterozygous for the variant (A/G genotype frequency 3.4%), 8 (4.1%) obese and 2 (2.0%) non-obese. No differences were reported for visceral adiposity area (145.8 +/- 49.9 vs. 1477 +/- 48.8 cm(2); p = 0.92) based on CT scan results but N363S SNP carriers showed a proneness to unfavorable metabolic changes. Conclusion: The N363S polymorphism prevalence is low in the Brazilian population, although its presence may contribute to the worsening of individuals' metabolic profiles. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab. 2009;53(2):288-292. (AU)