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Objectives:Obesity is associated with high levels proinflammatory cytokines like tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), which may play an important role in the genesis of insulin resistance. We evaluated the relationship of −308G/Apolymorphism ofTNF-αgene with obesity and insulin resistance in Asian Indians in north India.Methods:This cross-sectional study included 151 apparently healthy individuals (79 males, 72 females) 18–50 yrs of age from New Delhi, India. Body composition by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and abdominal fat by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were measured. Biochemical measurements included OGTT, lipids, fasting insulin, hs-CRP and TNF-αlevels. We analysed −308G/Apolymorphism ofTNF-αgene and studied its association with obesity and biochemical parameters.Results:At comparable BMI, abdominal obesity was more prevalent in females (50%) as compared to males (20%). The wild genotype (GG) was present in 78.8%, GA in 17.9%, andAAin 3.3% subjects. Measures of body composition, abdominal fat distribution, lipids, insulin, hs-CRP and TNF-αlevels were not influenced by the presence of −308G/Apolymorphism. Serum TNF-αlevels correlated significantly with fasting insulin in both genders.Conclusion:TNF-αlevels correlate with fasting insulin but not with indicators of body composition in Asian Indians. The −308G/Apolymorphism ofTNF-αgene is not associated with differences in the serum levels of TNF-αin Asian Indians.

Background:Genetics of non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) in Asian Indians has been inadequately investigated. This study aims to determine the association of the1784G > Cpolymorphism in the SREBP-2 gene with NAFLD in Asian Indians in north India.Methods:In this study, (n= 335); 162 obese with NAFLD, 91 obese without NAFLD and 82 non-obese without NAFLD subjects were recruited. Abdominal ultrasound, clinical profile, anthropometry, metabolic profile, serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, fasting insulin and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were analysed. Polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism were used to identify individual genotypes, and the association of this polymorphism with clinical and biochemical parameters was assessed.Results:The observed frequency of G allele was 0.73 and C allele was 0.27. Frequency ofC/Cgenotype was higher in NAFLD as compared to obese and non-obese subjects (p= 0.003). In NAFLD subjects 57.4% wereG/Ghomozygous, 31.5%G/Cheterozygous and 11.1% wereC/Chomozygous. The SREBP-2 genotype frequencies deviated from the Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium (X2= 6.39,p = 0.0114). Mean values of TG (p= 0.002), TC (p= 0.002), ALT (p= 0.04) and AST (p=0.03) levels were significantly higher in NAFLD subjects withG/Cgenotype as compared toG/Ggenotypes in obese and non-obese groups. Fasting insulin (p= 0.03), HOMA (p= 0.009) and hs-CRP levels were significantly higher in NAFLD subjects withG/Cgenotype as compared to obese and non obese subjects withG/Ggenotypes.Conclusion:In this study, conducted for the first time in Asian Indians,SREBP-21784G > Cgenotype was associated with NAFLD.