Association of AdipoQ (G>T) gene polymorphism with obesity and hypertension in North Indian postmenopausal women of Punjab

Objectives: We aimed to explore the association of obesity and hypertension and further their association with AdipoQ gene polymorphism in North Indian postmenopausal women of Punjab. Methods: A total of 523 postmenopausal women (PMW) were enrolled (PMW with CVD=265 and PMW without CVD=258). Anthropometric measurements such as weight, height, hip circumference (HC), waist circumference (WC), waist hip ratio (WHR) and body mass index (BMI) for all the subjects were recorded in accordance to WHO 2000 protocol. For hypertension, guidelines of the Joint National Committee (JNC-VII) of high blood pressure were considered. Genotyping of AdipoQ (G>T) gene polymorphism was done by RFLP-PCR analysis. Results: The comparison of the frequency distribution of alleles and genotypes of AdipoQ (+276G>T) gene polymorphism showed a significant distribution (p<0.05) among subjects with and without CVD. The risk for CVD was high (similar to 9 fold) among carriers of +276T allele towards CVD predisposition. Obese women with CVD under the recessive model conferred similar to 8 fold high risk (p=0.001) and +276T allele and TT genotype of non-obese women with CVD for BMI <25 also conferred similar to 9 fold high risk. Hypertension also acted as a strong risk factor related to CVD (p=0.0001). Under the recessive model, hypertensive PMW with CVD conferred 7-9 fold higher risk however, normotensive women with CVD also conferred 9 similar to 10-fold risk towards CVD predisposition. Conclusions: The T allele carriers of AdipoQ gene is strongly associated with risk factors such as obesity and hypertension pertaining to cardiovascular disease. Early detection of these risk factors may serve as a CVD preventative intervention.