ABSTRACT
Obesity is caused by interactions of energy consumption, amount of food intake, physical activity and etc, and these elements are influenced by genetic factors. Obesity related genes which have been known by now are over 200. One of these is Kir6.2 which forms the pore region of K(ATP) channel, and genetic variation of which may result in altered beta-cell electrical activity, insulin secretion, glucose homeostasis, and increased susceptibility to type 2 diabetes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between Kir6.2 E23K polymorphism and fat distribution or metabolic profiles in Korean. A total of 164 patients who visited Dongsan Medical Center Obesity Clinic from February 2004 to December 2005, were enrolled in this study. Screening for Kir6.2 polymorphism carried out by PCR-RFLP analyses. We divided this group into three groups E/E, E/K, K/K. Serum lipid and blood glucose were measured by autoanalyzer. Visceral fat amount and subcutaneous fat by abdominal CT, total fat mass by DEXA were measured. The subjects of E/E, E/K, K/K genotypes were 24, 79, and 61, respectively. The results of ANOVA analysis was that subjects with the K/K genotypes had more visceral fat amount (P<0.05) and higher total cholesterol levels (P<0.05) than E/E subjects group. Visceral fat amount and serum total cholesterol were significantly different according to Kir6.2 E23K polymorphism. Therefore, Kir6.2 polymorphism may act on fat distribution in Koreans.