Association of Genetic Variants in GNβ3 with Functional Dyspepsia: A Meta-Analysis

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a functional upper gastrointestinal disorder. The etiology and pathogenesis of FD remain unclear, with genetic factors playing an important role. Previous studies investigated the association of C825T in GN beta 3 with FD, with conflicting results reported. The aim of this meta-analysis is to assess the association of genetic variants in GN beta 3 with FD. We performed a systematic literature search in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and Web of Knowledge, and conducted a meta-analysis to assess the association of C825T in GN beta 3 with FD. For sensitivity analysis, we analyzed the association between C825T and subtypes of FD. We also performed meta-analyses separately for individual ethnic groups/countries of origin. A total of eight studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in our analyses. Our meta-analysis finds no association between 825CC and FD (OR 1.19, 95 % CI 0.84-1.67, p = 0.328). However, the association is significant under an additive model (OR 0.59, 95 % CI 0.38-0.92, p = 0.018). Sensitivity analysis indicated a significant association of C825T with FD in participants from Korea but not in those from Japan, Europe, or the United States. We also detected a significant association of this SNP with dysmotility. The genetic variant C825T in GN beta 3 is significantly associated with FD under an additive model and the association is race-specific. Further studies with larger samples sizes are needed to validate our findings and to explore the potential mechanism underlying the association.