Variations in the PBEF1 gene are associated with body mass index: A population-based study in northern China

OBJECTIVE: PBEF1 and its polymorphisms may be important in the physiopathology of obesity. We hypothesized that polymorphisms in PBEF1 gene may modify body mass index (BMI). METHODS: Thus, we systematically screened 4 tagging polymorphisms (rs4730153, rs2058540, rs3801267 and rs16872158) in PBEF1 gene and evaluated the association between the genetic variants and BMI in a population-based study including 442 subjects in northern China. RESULTS: We found that the SNP rs3801267 was significantly associated with decreased BMI (P = 0.026 in additive model), while the other 2 SNPs (rs4730153 and rs16872158) showed a borderline significant association with decreased BMI (P = 0.068 and 0.060 in additive models). Combined analysis of these 3 SNPs showed a significant allele–dosage association between the number of variant alleles and decreased BMI (P(trend) = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that genetic variants in PBEF1 gene may modify individual BMI in the Chinese population.