To investigate the association of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)gene G308A single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)with childhood obesity and metabolic disorders.

A total of 620 obese children admitted to our pediatric department from January 2015 to December 2019 were selected as research subjects, who were divided into metabolic non-healthy group(n=267)and metabolic healthy group(n=353), and 260 healthy children were selected as the control group. Single nucleotide polymorphism of TNF-α gene G308A was detected, serum TNF-α level, obesity indicators, glucose and lipid metabolism indicators were compared among the children in various groups.

No significant differences in body mass index(BMI), waist circumference, hip circumference, and serum TNF-α level were found between metabolic non-healthy group and metabolic healthy group(P>0.05), but higher than those in control group(P<0.05). There were no significant differences in fasting plasma glucose(FPG)and total cholesterol(TC) levels among the three groups(P>0.05). The levels of fasting insulin(FINS), fasting glucagon(FGC), HbA_1C, triglyceride(TG), and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol(LDL-C)in metabolic non-health group and metabolic health group were significantly higher than those in control group, higher in metabolic non-health group compared with metabolic healthy group(P<0.05). HDL-C level in two obese groups was significantly lower than that in control group, lower in metabolic non-health group compared with metabolic healthy group(P<0.05). The frequencies of GG genotype and allele G in metabolic non-healthy group and metabolic healthy group were significantly lower than those in control group, lower in metabolic non-health group compared with metabolic healthy group. The frequencies of AA, GA genotypes and allele A were significantly higher in metabolic non-health group than those in metabolic healthy group(P<0.05). There were no significant differences in TNF-α, FPG, and TC among AA, GA and GG groups(P>0.05). BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, FINS, FGC, HbA_1C, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C were comparable between AA type and GA type(P>0.05), but revealed a significant difference compared with GG type(P<0.05).Pearson correlation analysis showed that the level of TNF-α was positively correlated with BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, FPG, FINS, FGC, HbA_1C, TC, TG, and LDL-C(P<0.05), but negatively correlated with HDL-C(P<0.05).

TNF-α gene G308A single nucleotide polymorphism is associated with obesity and metabolic disorders in children.

Tumor necrosis factor-α; G308A; Polymorphism, single nucleotide; Children; Metabolic disorder