Relevance of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma in obesity / Ili Nursafra Tedin Ng

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-y) plays an important role in the regulation of the transcription of several genes involved in adipocyte differentiation, lipid oxidation, glucose and lipid metabolism, insulin sensitivity, angiogenesis and inflammation. The Pro12Ala polymorphism in PPAR-y2 is frequently associated with type-2 diabetes while its association with obesity in different populations are contradictory. Its association with obesity among Caucasians, Mediterranean and Asian population are widely studied; however, no study was conducted among the Malaysian Malays. This study investigates the influence of Pro 12Ala missense mutation of PPAR- y on the risk of obesity and obesity-related phenotypes in Malaysian Malays which include effects of dietary fat intake and the level of physical activity with BMI. We recruited 40 obese and 40 lean individuals aged from 18 to 65 years old and conducted anthropometrical examinations for the calculation of Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio (WHR). Body fat mass as well as fat percentage was also measured using bioelectrical impedance analyser TANITA® SC-330 (T ANITA Corp, Japan). Indication for the level of physical activity was derived from self-administered long form International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) while 24-hour dietary recall was conducted by trained dieticians for the calculation of dietary fat intake.