Yaghootkar et al (2016) have identified SNPs where the allele associated with body fat percentage is associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and favourable biomarker profile; fat allele goes with higher HDLC and lower triglycerides and lower insulin. Most of these SNPs are associated with lower waist-hip ratio in women, but not men, and are associated with similar effects on body fat percentage. A genetic risk score for these SNPs is associated with more subcutaneous and less liver fat – the effect on liver fat is potentially stronger in women. Commonly, individuals with such a profile are described as having ‘favourable adiposity’ or being ‘metabolically healthy obese’. Currently no-one has looked at these variants’ effects on the metabolite profile, we intend to investigate the effects of these SNPs on the metabolite profile of individuals within ALSPAC.

Yaghootkar H, Lotta LA, Tyrrell J, et al. Genetic evidence for a link between favorable adiposity and lower risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. Diabetes. 2016;65(8):2448-2460. doi:10.2337/db15-1671.