Genetic variant linked to obesity
People without specific blood group Vel gene variant tend to be overweight or obese due to reduced energy expenditure.
A new genetic cause of obesity has been discovered.
Image credit: Towfiqu barbhuiya
- Scientists discover new cause of obesity in people who lack a specific blood group (called Vel).
- People with a genetic variant that disables the SMIM1 gene have higher body weight because they expend less energy at rest.
- The variant is found in 1 in 5,000 people and makes them Vel-negative.
- Vel-negative individuals are also more likely to be overweight or obese.
- The study suggests that a cheaply available drug for thyroid dysfunction may be effective in treating obesity in people who lack both copies of SMIM1.
- People without both copies of the gene have other measures linked to obesity, including high levels of fat in the blood and signs of fat tissue dysfunction.
- Lower levels of thyroid hormones are also found in Vel-negative individuals.
- The discovery highlights the need to investigate the genetic cause of obesity to select the most appropriate and effective treatment.
Source: University of Exeter