HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Santoro, N. Articles by del Giudice, E. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Santoro, N. Articles by del Giudice, E. M. Agricola Articles by Santoro, N. Articles by del Giudice, E. M.

Effect of the melanocortin-3 receptor C17A and G241A variants on weight loss in childhood obesity^1,2,3

¹ From the Department of Pediatrics "F Fede," Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, Napoli, Italy

Background:The central melanocortin system is critical for the long-term regulation of energy homeostasis. Melanocortin-3 receptor (MC3R) knock-out mice, despite being hypophagic, have increased fat mass and higher feed efficiency than do their wild-type littermates.

Objective:The aim was to evaluate whether, in childhood obesity, MC3R variants are associated with changes in fatness reduction as a consequence of a weight-reduction program.

Design:Molecular screening of the MC3R coding region in 184 obese children, 77 girls and 107 boys [ (±SEM) body mass index (BMI; in kg/m²) z score: 3.3 ± 2.3; age 9.2 ± 2 y], was performed. BMI was evaluated at baseline and after 6 and 12 mo of the weight loss program.

Results:No new mutations were found. Two previously described polymorphisms, C17A (Thr6Lys) and G241A (Val81Ile), were observed in 20 patients in almost complete linkage disequilibrium. No significant differences in BMI z scores were observed at baseline of the weight-loss program between the genotypes; however, at follow-up, heterozygotes showed a significantly higher BMI z score (P = 0.03). When the patients were divided according to the amount of weight lost, a higher prevalence of heterozygotes was observed among subjects who lowered their BMI z score <1.5 (P = 0.03).

Conclusion:These results suggest a gene-diet interaction between the MC3R C17A and G241A variants and a weight loss program for the ability to lose weight in childhood obesity.

Key Words: MC3R gene • polymorphism • childhood obesity • weight loss • BMI z score

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. M Savastano, M. Tanofsky-Kraff, J. C Han, C. Ning, R. A Sorg, C. A Roza, L. E Wolkoff, K. Anandalingam, K. S Jefferson-George, R. E Figueroa, et al. Energy intake and energy expenditure among children with polymorphisms of the melanocortin-3 receptor Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, October 1, 2009; 90(4): 912 - 920. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M Ordovas Genetic influences on blood lipids and cardiovascular disease risk: tools for primary prevention Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, May 1, 2009; 89(5): 1509S - 1517S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Santoro, G. Cirillo, M. G. Lepore, A. Palma, A. Amato, P. Savarese, P. Marzuillo, A. Grandone, L. Perrone, and E. M. del Giudice Effect of the rs997509 Polymorphism on the Association between Ectonucleotide Pyrophosphatase Phosphodiesterase 1 and Metabolic Syndrome and Impaired Glucose Tolerance in Childhood Obesity J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2009; 94(1): 300 - 305. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]