New Gene variants liable for obesity in Indians, Research says

NI Wire

New Delhi

Tue, 06 May 2008: 

Now, Indians can blame to the new genes found liable for increasing fat, weight, diabetes and bulge around the waist and hips. A team of European scientists has found the new gene variants among Indians’ body, which boost obesity and bulge around the waist of Indians.

In the recent study conducted the team of scientists led by Cambridge GEM consortium (Genetics of Energy Metabolism) and Oxford University along with the 77 institutes from UK, USA, France, Germany, Italy, Finland and Sweden have found that the variants detected in genes are called FTO genes and another close to MC4R genes that make prone to Indian adults for obesity and diabetes.

The variants map close to a gene called MC4R, resultant from mutations in this gene, which is the most common genetic reason for severe familial obesity. The MC4R protein plays a vital role in human body including controlling the appetite and energy expenditure. When the two copies of variants of MC4R works with FTO variants, which role was unveiled by the same team and article regarding this was published in April 2007, enhance the body weight up to an average of 3.5 kg and increase the fat level to 2 cm. circumference around the waist.

On the other hand, the two copies of FTO variants enhance the weight to an average of 1.5 kg in comparison of the people who do not have any copy of the variant. Similar like, the two copies of the MC4R variants hike the body mass to an average of 2-3 kg.

“The precise role in obesity of genetic variants in FTO and near MC4R remains to be discovered, but we can now begin to understand the biological consequences of these variants. This is where this research will make a difference,” wrote the leading researcher of the team. The research has been published in ‘Nature Genetics,’ a famous science magazine.

On the basis of broad study conducted over 77,000 adults including Asian and Indians, the scientists have found that nearby 10 per cent of Indian population carried two copies of the genetic variant, 40 per cent carried one copy, and 50 per cent carried no copy of the variant.

This study is on the basis of UK scientists who have analysed the gene sequences in 2,684 Asian Indians living in the UK and 11,955 Indian or European origins and concluded that Indians have 50 percent more common specific gene variant 50 per cent in the comparison Europeans.

But, the research team has also mentioned it that although gene variants can affect weight, body mass index and obesity but they are only part of the story. So, the lifestyle, good diet and regular exercise are still vital to control weight, as per a member of team illustrated.