Association of Omentin rs2274907 Gene Polymorphism and Its Protein on the Risk of Obesity and Metabolic Disorder in Thai Children

Abstract

Omentin is an adipocytokine that expresses in white adipose tissues. It is a marker for preventing the development of pro-inflammatory states related to diseases like obesity. This study aimed to examine the concentrations of omentin and anthropometric-biochemical parameters in obese children and healthy controls. Also, to search for the associations of omentin rs2274907 gene polymorphism with omentin levels and obesity among Thai children. A total of 293 children, 178 obese cases and 115 healthy controls, were recruited for this study. The omentin level was measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and genotyping was performed using the polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Serum omentin levels were significantly lower in the obese group than in the control group (13.9 and 25.0 ng/mL, respectively, p < 0.001). The omentin levels had significant negative correlation with body weight, body mass index (BMI) percentile, waist circumference, triglycerides (r = –0.276, –0.275, –0.259, –0.242, p < 0.001), and had positive correlation with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (r = 0.210, p < 0.001). There was a significant association between obesity and serum omentin levels (p < 0.05). However, the omentin rs2274907 gene polymorphism showed no significant relationship with the omentin levels and obesity among Thai children. These findings in Thai children suggest that omentin level, but not omentin rs2274907 gene polymorphism, may influence susceptibility to obesity.