Background: The Pro12Ala polymorphism (rs1801282), a nonsynonymous substitution of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARG), has been robustly associated with type 2 diabetes. However, its role in metabolic syndrome (MetS) remains poorly understood. The associations among rs1801282, MetS and surrogate measures of insulin resistance (IR) were investigated in the present study.
Methods and results: A cross-sectional population-based survey of 572 unrelated healthy male Argentinian blood donors with normal findings on medical examination and not taking any medication was conducted. MetS was assessed using the National Cholesterol Education Program/Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP/ATP III) criteria, and the HOMA-IR, and QUICKI were calculated. Genotyping of rs1801282 was performed using RFLP-PCR. The prevalence of MetS was 26.2%. The Pro/Ala genotype (and the Ala12 allele) was associated with a high risk for MetS (odds ratio (OR) 1.67 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-2.72], P=0.0394). This was highlighted among nonsmokers (OR 2.20 [95%CI 1.25-3.88], P=0.0059). ANCOVA confirmed an interaction between smoking status and this association (P=0.031). Ala12 carriers had a higher waist circumference than noncarriers (P=0.0065). Among nonsmokers, surrogates of IR, such as HOMA-IR, were significantly higher in Ala12 carriers than in noncarriers (P<0.05).
Conclusions: Healthy men, in particular nonsmokers, carrying the Ala12 allele of PPARG rs1801282 polymorphism, have a high risk for MetS and IR.