Home
Individuals with specific gene variant at higher fatty liver risk
The London News.Net
Friday 26th September, 2008 (ANI)
London, Sept 26 : Researchers at UT South-western Medical Centre have revealed that individuals who carry a specific form of the gene are at an increased risk of developing fatty liver disease.
The study showed that people carrying variant of gene PNPLA3 have more fat in their livers and are at a greater risk of developing liver inflammation.
Moreover, Hispanics were more likely to carry the gene variant responsible for higher liver-fat content than African-Americans and Caucasians.
"A single variation in the PNPLA3 gene was strongly associated with hepatic fat content, even after adjusting for other factors, such as obesity, diabetes status and alcohol intake," Nature Genetics quoted senior study author Dr. Helen Hobbs, director of the Eugene McDermott Centre for Human Growth and Development and an investigator for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at UT South-western, as saying.
"Sequence variations in this gene explain much of the increased propensity of Hispanics to accumulate excess liver fat," she added.
"The gene variations we have identified might provide a way to predict who is most at risk for developing fatty liver disease and liver injury in response to environmental stresses such as obesity or infection," said Dr. Jonathan Cohen, professor of internal medicine in the McDermott Centre and one of the authors of the study.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is an accumulation of triglycerides in the liver and contributes to insulin resistance, obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol - many of the conditions that contribute to heart disease.
"Knowing who is at increased risk of developing liver disease could aid physicians in encouraging their patients to make lifestyle changes or take other preventive measures to help mitigate their underlying genetic risk for the disorder," said Dr. Cohen, holder of the C. Vincent Prothro Distinguished Chair in Human Nutrition Research.
The study appears in journal Nature Genetics.
 Email this story to a friend
Have your say on this story
|
 |
 |
- Pepe Jeans London sets trend this winter
Mumbai, Nov 21 (ANI/Business Wire India): Pepe Jeans London, a brand synonymous with chic street fashion and casual cool, has announced the launch of its winter wear 2008 collection called- Trend. [read story]
- D/L could have been avoided in Kanpur ODI: Pietersen
London, Nov 21(IANS) England skipper Kevin Pietersen feels that a flexible approach to the third One-Day International could have avoided the match to decided on the Duckworth-Lewis system (D/L). [read story]
- World campaign to save Gulf of Mannar gathers momentum
London, Nov.21 : Ecologists, academics, scientists and religious leaders from around the world will gather in London next week. Their aim will be to prevent the destruction of the Gulf of Mannar, one of the last remaining intact ecosystems on earth and home to the famous Ram Sethu or Adam's Bridge, a site sacred to one billion Hindus worldwide. [read story]
- Jolie's twins' pic deal with People magazine 'guaranteed positive coverage'
London, Nov 21 : When Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt negotiated with People magazine for photos of their newborn twins, the couple was seeking more than the estimated 14 million pounds they received from the deal, according to reports. [read story]
- 'Citizen Kane' tops French magazine's 'Best 100 Movies' list
London, Nov 21 : 'Citizen Kane', a 1941 American dramatic film and the first feature film directed by Orson Welles, has topped Cahiers du Cinema magazine's list of 'The Best 100 Movies'. [read story]
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
