Abstract

Objective: To study the association of SLC16A 11 gene variants with obesity and metabolic markers in nondiabetic Chilean adults. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study included 263 non­diabetic adults. The genotype of the rs75493593 polymorphism of SLC16A 11 gene was perfarmed by real-time PCR. lt's association with adiposity markers (body weight, BMI, waist circumference and fat mass percentage), metabolic markers (glucose, insulin, HOMA,R, leptin, total cholesterol, LDLc, HDLc, triglycerides, ALT, GGT and hsCRP) and blood pressure was analyzed by linear regression. Results: The minar allele (T) of the SLC16A 11 gene (rs75493593) has a frequency of 29.7% among Chileans. Risk genotypes (GT andTT) were associated with a significant 1.49 mU/I increase in plasmatic insulin far each copy of the minar allele (95% CI: 0.12, 2.87, p < 0.05). This association remained significant after adjusting far socio-demographic variables, physical activity and smoking (1.36 mU/I, 95% CI: 0.16, 2.58 p < 0.05), but was lost when BMI was included as a confounding factor. Higher BMI was also significantly associated with polymorphic genotypes in SLC16A 11, independent of socio­demographic variables. Conclusion: The minar allele of the SLC16A 11 gene (T) is highly prevalent among Chileans and is associated with increased insulin and BMI in nondiabetic individua Is. These findings suggest that the genetic variant in SLC16A 11 is not only associated with type 2 diabetes as previously shown in Mexicans, but is also related to early metabolic alterations in healthy subjects that may lead to type 2 diabetes.