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Holzapfel, C. ; Grallert, H. ; Baumert, J.J. ; Thorand, B. ; Döring, A. ; Wichmann, H.-E. ; Hauner, H.* ; Illig, T. ; Mielck, A.

First investigation of two obesity-related loci (TMEM18, FTO) concerning their association with educational level as well as income: The MONICA/KORA study.

J. Epidemiol. Community Health 65, 174-176 (2011)
DOI PMC
Open Access Green as soon as Postprint is submitted to ZB.
Background Strong evidence exists for an association between socioeconomic status and body mass index (BMI) as well as between genetic variants and BMI. The association of genetic variants with socioeconomic status has not yet been investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate two obesity-related loci-the transmembrane 18 (TMEM18) and the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene-for their association with educational level and per capita income, and to test whether the detected genotype-BMI association is mediated by these social factors. Methods 12 425 adults from a large population-based study were genotyped for the polymorphism rs6548238 near TMEM18 and rs9935401 within the FTO gene. Data on educational level and per capita income were based on standardised questionnaires. Results High educational level and high per capita income were significantly associated with decreased BMI (-1.503 kg/m(2), p<0.0001/-0.820 kg/m(2), p<0.0001). Neither the polymorphism rs6548238 nor rs9935401 nor their combination were significantly associated with educational level (p=0.773/p=0.827/p=0.755) or income (p=0.751/p=0.991/p=0.820). Adjustment for social factors did not change the association between rs6548238 or rs9935401 and BMI. Conclusions As far as the authors know, this is the first study to investigate the association between polymorphisms and socioeconomic status. The polymorphisms rs6548238 and rs9935401 showed no association with educational level or income.
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Publication type Article: Journal article
Document type Scientific Article
Corresponding Author
Keywords Body-mass-index; Genome-wide association; Adult obesity; Socioeconomic position; Skinfold thickness; Health research; Seccular trends; Weight change; Social-class; Population
ISSN (print) / ISBN 0143-005X
e-ISSN 1470-2738
Journal Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
Quellenangaben Volume: 65, Issue: 2, Pages: 174-176 Article Number: , Supplement: ,
Publisher BMJ Publishing Group
Non-patent literature Publications
Reviewing status Peer reviewed
Institute(s) Institute of Epidemiology (EPI)
Institute of Health Economics and Health Care Management (IGM)
Institute of Epidemiology II (EPI2)
Research Unit Molecular Epidemiology (AME)