Lack of an association between FTO polymorphism and changes in obesity-related traits in response to an aerobic training program

Ewelina Maculewicz¹, Weronika Lepionka²

¹ Department of Applied Physiology, Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Warsaw, Poland
² Human Performance Laboratory, EUAfME Drug Safety Unit (DSU) Regional Platform, Pfizer Poland, Warsaw, Poland

Background: ‪‪The first described obesity-susceptibility gene, with the largest influence on increased BMI to date, was the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene. However, the role of FTO’s potential modifying effect on changes in obesity-related parameters achieved through a training program is still unclear. The aim of the present study was to examine whether FTO A/T polymorphism (rs9939609) influences the effects of a training program.

Material and methods: Accordingly, we studied the allele and genotype distribution in a group of 55 male participants measured for selected body mass and composition, as well as biochemical parameters before and after the realization of a 10-week aerobic training program.

Results: The body mass (F1,52 = 12.4, p = 0.0009, 61.04 ±6.55 vs 60.49 ±6.48), body mass index (BMI; F1,52 = 7.8,
p = 0.007, 21.91 ±2.43 vs 21.74 ±2.35), basal metabolic rate (BMR; F1,52 = 14.7, p = 0.0003, 1452 ±67 vs 1447 ±67), fat mass percentage (FM%; F1,52 = 12.6, p = 0.0008, 24.73 ±4.83 vs 23.91 ±4.81), fat mass (FM; F1,52 = 19.5, p = 0.00005, 15.37 ±4.51 vs 14.69 ±4.52), and high-density lipoprotein level (HDL; F1,52=5.7, p = 0.020, 60.85 ±12.08 vs 58.12 ±12.81) changed significantly during regular physical activity (PA). However, we did not observe any main effects of genotype as well as the genotype x training interactions.

Conclusions: ‪In conclusion, our data did not show the effect of the A allele of the FTO polymorphism (rs9939609) on higher obesity risk and the association between PA and the polymorphism on the chosen variabilities. However, more experiments are needed to establish this complicated association between the FTO gene, obesity, and PA in differential study populations.

Key words: ‪ FTO gene, sport genetics, physical activity, body composition.