Objective: This study aimed to investigate the possible role of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) gene polymorphisms in childhood obesity and related metabolic disorders.
Methods: Obese patients (n=100) and healthy controls (n=100) were analyzed for -866G>A and insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphisms of the UCP2 gene by polymerase chain raction and/or restriction fragment length polymorphism.
Results: UCP2 I/D polymorphism showed an association with obesity. The insertion homozygous genotype (II) was higher in obese patients (p=0.0001), while the DD genotype was higher in controls (p=0.0034). Body mass index and relative weight were lower in patients carrying the A allele of the -866G>A polymorphism (p=0.021 and p=0.047, respectively). There was an association between insulin resistance and -866A allele carrier patients with consanguineous parents (p=0.005).
Conclusion: Insertion homozygous genotype and the allele of I/D polymorphism were found to be risk factors for childhood obesity and related metabolic disorders. The -866A allele was associated with susceptibility to central adiposity, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and insulin resistance.