New genetic loci link adipose and insulin biology to body fat distribution

Categories: Basic Science, Metabolic Health

Tags Genetics, Insulin Resistance & Diabetes

Type Article

Journal Article

Authors

D. Shungin; T. W. Winkler; D. C. Croteau-Chonka; T. Ferreira; A. E. Locke; R. Mägi; R. J. Strawbridge; T. H. Pers; K. Fischer; A. E. Justice; T. Workalemahu; J. M. W. Wu; M. L. Buchkovich; N. L. Heard-Costa; T. S. Roman; A. W. Drong; C. Song; S. Gustafsso

Year of publication

2015

Publication/Journal

Nature

Volume

518

Issue

7538

Pages

187-196

Abstract

Body fat distribution is a heritable trait and a well-established predictor of adverse metabolic outcomes, independent of overall adiposity. To increase our understanding of the genetic basis of body fat distribution and its molecular links to cardiometabolic traits, here we conduct genome-wide association meta-analyses of traits related to waist and hip circumferences in up to 224,459 individuals. We identify 49 loci (33 new) associated with waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and an additional 19 loci newly associated with related waist and hip circumference measures (P