Relationship between MTNR1B (melatonin receptor 1B gene) polymorphism rs10830963 and glucose levels in overweight children and adolescents

Aims: The G-allele of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs10830963 in MTNR1B (melatonin receptor 1B gene) is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus and glucose levels in adults. The aim of this study was to analyze whether there is an allele-dosage effect on glucose metabolism in overweight children and to explore if changes in glucose metabolism in a lifestyle intervention do also depend on genotype.

Methods: We genotyped rs10830963 in 1118 overweight children and adolescents [mean age 10.7 yr, mean body mass index (BMI) 27.8 kg/m2]; 340 of these individuals completed a 1-yr lifestyle intervention (mean age 10.7 yr, mean BMI 27.9 kg/m2). The degree of overweight [BMI-SDS (standard deviation score)], fasting insulin, glucose, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) were measured before and after intervention.

Results: We showed a significant relationship between rs10830963 and basal glucose levels [β:1.101, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.316-1.886 mg/dL per risk allele; p = 0.006] by linear regression adjusted for age, age(2), and sex. There was no effect of the allele on insulin or indices of insulin resistance or sensitivity. After the 1-yr lifestyle intervention, we observed a significant reduction of BMI-SDS as well as an improvement of HOMA-IR and QUICKI, but no evidence for an association between rs10830963 genotype and changes of glucose levels.

Conclusions: The G-allele of rs10830693 in the MTNR1B gene was significantly related to glucose levels, while an impact of this genetic variant on the changes in glucose metabolism in children participating in a lifestyle intervention was not observable.