The Risk of Obesity and the Trp64Arg Polymorphism of the β3-Adrenergic Receptor: Effect Modification by Age

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Abstract
Aim: To examine the association between the risk of obesity and the Trp64Arg polymorphism of the β3-adrenergic receptor gene. Methods: A case-control study was conducted. The case series encompassed 159 subjects with a body mass index >30 kg/m2 (obesity) and no other major diseases except for type 2 diabetes, and the controls were 154 healthy subjects with a body mass index 2. 313 Spanish subjects between 20 and 60 years of age were screened for the Trp64Arg mutation. Results: The prevalence of the Trp64Arg mutation was similar among cases (19.5%) and control subjects (16.2%). The association between the risk of obesity and the Trp64Arg mutation was estimated using multivariate logistic regression. A higher odds ratio of 3.84 (95% CI 1.33–11.12) for the mutation was found among younger individuals (20–35 years), while no increased risk was apparent among older participants (35–60 years). Moreover, when the model was adjusted for gender, age, and leisure-time physical activity, the product-term for interaction (effect modification) between age and the presence of the Trp64Arg mutation was statistically significant (likelihood ratio test p = 0.035). Conclusion: Individuals aged 20–35 years who are Trp64Arg carriers had a substantially higher risk of developing obesity, independent of their sex or leisure-time physical activity.