Obesity-related leptin receptor polymorphisms and gallstones disease

Objective: Investigate the association between polymorphisms in the leptin receptor gene associated with obesity and gallstone disease. Design: We conducted a cross-sectional study, carried out at a tertiary setting. Subjects: We enrolled 97 subjects, comprising 54 subjects with gallstones (cases) and 43 controls (without gallstones). Measurements: Diet was assessed using a validated questionnaire for the Mexican population. Body mass index, waist circumference, serum glucose, insulin, leptin, lipids and lipoproteins levels were measured. Insulin resistance was calculated by HOMA-IR. Genomic DNA was isolated from lymphoblastoid cells, and Q223R and K656N polymorphisms in the leptin receptor gene were typed using polymerase chain reaction. Unconditional univariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to estimate the probability of gallstone disease associated with the polymorphisms as main effect. Results: Cases were different in gender (40.74% males in cases vs 74.41% in controls; p < 0.001), older (49.74 vs 44.83 years; p < 0.05), and had more body fat (32.34% vs 28.14%; p = 0.01). Individuals carrying the polymorphism Q223R exhibited a higher BMI (28.44 ± 6.6 kg/m2 vs 25.94 ± 3.67 kg/m2, p < 0.05) and waist circumference (96.7 ± 16.39 cm vs 89.2 ± 11.05 cm, p < 0.05). In univariate analysis, we did not observe a relation between the presence of a R223 or N656 genotype and gallstone disease in our population (OR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.35-1.73). Conclusion: Obesity-related leptin receptor polymorphisms are not associated with gallstones disease.