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Horm Metab Res 2012; 44(01): 75-77
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1291306
Short Communication
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

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
1   Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
,
A.-L. Volckmar
1   Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
,
C. Pütter
2   Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
,
A. Scherag
2   Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
,
M. Kleber
3   Vestische Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University of Witten/Herdecke, Datteln, Germany
,
J. Hebebrand
1   Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
,
A. Hinney   *
1   Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
,
T. Reinehr   *
3   Vestische Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University of Witten/Herdecke, Datteln, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 19 July 2011

accepted 05 October 2011

Publication Date:
08 November 2011 (online)

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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.

*

*  These authors contributed equally to this work.


 

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