The Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase (FAAH) Gene Variant rs324420 AA/AC is not Associated with Weight Loss in a 1-Year Lifestyle Intervention for Obese Children and Adolescents

N. Knoll; A.-L. Volckmar; C. Pütter; A. Scherag; M. Kleber; J. Hebebrand; A. Hinney; T. Reinehr

doi:10.1055/s-0031-1291306

Hormone and Metabolic Research, Table of Contents

Horm Metab Res 2012; 44(01): 75-77
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1291306

Short Communication

The Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase (FAAH) Gene Variant rs324420 AA/AC is not Associated with Weight Loss in a 1-Year Lifestyle Intervention for Obese Children and Adolescents

N. Knoll

¹Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany

,

A.-L. Volckmar

¹Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany

,

C. Pütter

²Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany

,

A. Scherag

²Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany

,

M. Kleber

³Vestische Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University of Witten/Herdecke, Datteln, Germany

,

J. Hebebrand

¹Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany

,

A. Hinney^*

¹Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany

,

T. Reinehr^*

³Vestische Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University of Witten/Herdecke, Datteln, Germany

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Adult obese carriers of the A allele of SNP rs324420 in the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) gene lose more weight and improve associated phenotypes better than non-carriers during an intervention. We aimed to replicate this finding in obese children and adolescents undergoing a one year lifestyle intervention (Obeldicks program). A total of 453 overweight and obese children and adolescents (10.8±2.6 years, BMI-SDS 2.4±0.5; 55% girls) were genotyped for rs324420 (C/A) by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. Participants were prescribed a balanced diet, containing 55 En% carbohydrates, 30 En% fat, and 15 En% proteins. Moreover, they took part in an exercise therapy once a week. Blood was taken at baseline and after 1 year of intervention. Anthropometric (height, weight, BMI, and BMI-SDS) and plasma parameters (total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triacylglycerides, glucose, insulin, and HOMA) as well as blood pressure were measured. Both mean BMI and BMI-SDS improved significantly. The mean systolic blood pressure was also lowered and concentrations of HDL-cholesterol increased significantly. However, none of the measured changes were associated with FAAH rs324420 AA/AC genotype. We did not detect evidence for an association of FAAH genotypes with weight reduction in overweight and obese children and adolescents. Hence, the previous finding in adults could not be confirmed. As the length (1 year as compared to 3 months) and mode of treatment (hypocaloric diet in adults vs. physical activity plus balanced meals) of the interventions varied, these parameters might have influenced the inconsistent results.

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References

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