FTO rs62033406 A>G associated with the risk of osteonecrosis of the femoral head among the Chinese Han population

BACKGROUND: Fat mass and obesity-related (FTO) mRNA was downregulated in osteonecrosis patients. The study aimed to evaluate the correlation between FTO polymorphisms and the susceptibility of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). METHODS: Six polymorphisms in FTO were genotyped via the Agena MassARRAY in 498 ONFH patients and 498 healthy controls. Multiple genetic models were used to assess the correlation between FTO polymorphisms and ONFH risk by SNPStats. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using a logistic regression model adjusted by age, gender, smoking and drinking. RESULTS: The risk-increasing association of rs62033406 A>G with ONFH was found (OR = 1.25, 95% CI 1.05–1.50, p = 0.014). Specially, FTO rs62033406 A>G was related to the risk of ONFH in the subgroup at age > 51 years (OR = 1.25, p = 4.00 × 10(–4)), females (OR = 1.74, p = 1.00 × 10(–4)), smokers (OR = 1.82, p = 0.005) and drinkers (OR = 1.89, p = 0.002), respectively. The best multi–loci model was the five–loci model, a combination of rs9930333 T>G, rs1558902 T>A, rs56094641 A>G, rs3751812 G>T, and rs62033406 A>G (testing accuracy, 0.5351; p = 0.0004; cross–validation consistency, 10/10). CONCLUSION: Our study first revealed that FTO rs62033406 A>G was a risk factor for ONFH among the Chinese Han population, which might provide the new candidate gene for elucidating the pathogenesis of ONFH. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12920-022-01283-z.