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Recent genetic association studies have identified 55 genetic loci associated with obesity or body mass index (BMI). The vast majority, 51 loci, however, were identified in European-ancestry populations. We conducted a meta-analysis of associations between BMI and ∼2.5 million genotyped or imputed single nucleotide polymorphisms among 86 757 individuals of Asian ancestry, followed by in silico and de novo replication among 7488-47 352 additional Asian-ancestry individuals. We identified four novel BMI-associated loci near the KCNQ1 (rs2237892, P = 9.29 × 10(-13)), ALDH2/MYL2 (rs671, P = 3.40 × 10(-11); rs12229654, P = 4.56 × 10(-9)), ITIH4 (rs2535633, P = 1.77 × 10(-10)) and NT5C2 (rs11191580, P = 3.83 × 10(-8)) genes. The association of BMI with rs2237892, rs671 and rs12229654 was significantly stronger among men than among women. Of the 51 BMI-associated loci initially identified in European-ancestry populations, we confirmed eight loci at the genome-wide significance level (P < 5.0 × 10(-8)) and an additional 14 at P < 1.0 × 10(-3) with the same direction of effect as reported previously. Findings from this analysis expand our knowledge of the genetic basis of obesity.

Original publication

DOI

10.1093/hmg/ddu248

Type

Journal article

Journal

Hum Mol Genet

Publication Date

15/10/2014

Volume

23

Pages

5492 - 5504

Keywords

5'-Nucleotidase, Aldehyde Dehydrogenase, Aldehyde Dehydrogenase, Mitochondrial, Asian Continental Ancestry Group, Blood Proteins, Body Mass Index, Cardiac Myosins, Far East, Female, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Genome-Wide Association Study, Glycoproteins, Humans, KCNQ1 Potassium Channel, Male, Myosin Light Chains, Obesity, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Proteinase Inhibitory Proteins, Secretory