FTO Gene Variant Linked to Increased Mortality
Author Information
Author(s): Esther Zimmermann, Sofia I. I. Kring, Bina L. Berentzen, Claus Holst, Tune H. Pers, Torben Hansen, Oluf Pedersen, Thorkild I. A. Sørensen, Tine Jess
Primary Institution: Institute of Preventive Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospitals, Centre for Health and Society, Copenhagen, Denmark
Hypothesis
The FTO SNP is associated with morbidity and mortality through its effect on fatness.
Conclusion
The A-allele of the FTO SNP increases mortality independent of fatness, similar to the effects of smoking.
Supporting Evidence
- 205 men died during the median 13.5 years of follow-up.
- Mortality was 42% lower with the TT genotype than in A-allele carriers.
- The study included 362,200 Danish young men examined for military service.
Takeaway
A specific gene variant can make people more likely to die, even if they are not overweight.
Methodology
Cohort study of Danish men with follow-up on mortality and morbidity linked to genetic data.
Potential Biases
Potential population stratification due to differences in ancestry.
Limitations
The number of deaths was small, limiting detailed disease-specific investigations.
Participant Demographics
Caucasian men, aged 20 to 66, from Denmark.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.001
Confidence Interval
0.41–0.82
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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