Cited by 102Fibroblast Growth Factor ResearchGenetic Associations and EpidemiologyNutrition, Genetics, and Disease

A Common Allele in FGF21 Associated with Sugar Intake Is Associated with Body Shape, Lower Total Body-Fat Percentage, and Higher Blood Pressure

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Frayling, Timothy M., Beaumont, Robin N., Jones, Samuel E., Yaghootkar, Hanieh, Tuke, Marcus A., Ruth, Katherine S., Casanova, Francesco, West, Ben +18 more·2018·Cell Reports

Abstract

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a hormone that has insulin-sensitizing properties. Some trials of FGF21 analogs show weight loss and lipid-lowering effects. Recent studies have shown that a common allele in the FGF21 gene alters the balance of macronutrients consumed, but there was little evidence of an effect on metabolic traits. We studied a common FGF21 allele (A:rs838133) in 451,099 people from the UK Biobank study, aiming to use the human allele to inform potential adverse and beneficial effects of targeting FGF21. We replicated the association between the A allele and higher percentage carbohydrate intake. We then showed that this allele is more strongly associated with higher blood pressure and waist-hip ratio, despite an association with lower total body-fat percentage, than it is with BMI or type 2 diabetes. These human phenotypes of variation in the FGF21 gene will inform research into FGF21's mechanisms and therapeutic potential.

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Authors
Frayling, T. M., Beaumont, R. N., Jones, S. E., Yaghootkar, H., Tuke, M. A., Ruth, K. S., Casanova, F., West, B., Locke, J., Sharp, S., Ji, Y., Thompson, W., Harrison, J., Etheridge, A. S., Gallins, P. J., Jima, D., Wright, F., Zhou, Y., Innocenti, F., Lindgren, C. M., Grarup, N., Murray, A., Freathy, R. M., Weedon, M. N., Tyrrell, J., & Wood, A. R.
Affiliations
  • University of Exeter (GB)
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
  • North Carolina State University (US)
  • Broad Institute (US)
  • University of Copenhagen (DK)
Corresponding author
Frayling, Timothy M.
Venue
Cell Reports
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2018-04
Volume
23
Issue
2
Pages
327-336
ISSN
2211-1247 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2796661731
Cited by
101
References
49
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 4
FWCI
4.45
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cell Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Open Research Exeter (University of Exeter) (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Royal Society (104150/Z/14/Z)
  • Wellcome Trust
  • Diabetes UK
  • NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust/Institute of Cancer Research
  • European Research Council (323195, GLUCOSEGENES-FP7-IDEAS-ERC)
  • Medical Research Council (MR/M005070/1, WT097835MF)
  • European Regional Development Fund
  • National Institute for Health and Care Research
  • Novo Nordisk Fonden (9055, 9072)
  • Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation
  • Li Ka Shing Foundation
  • National Institutes of Health (CRR00070 CR00.01)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Fibroblast Growth Factor Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Nutrition, Genetics, and Disease
Keywords
FGF21, single nucleotide polymorphisms, sugar consumption, carbohydrate intake, body shape, waist-to-hip ratio, body fat percentage, blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, insulin sensitivity, FGF21 analogs, genetic association
MeSH terms
Sugars, Adult, Aged, Alcohol Drinking, Alleles, Blood Pressure, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Fibroblast Growth Factors, United Kingdom, Humans, Middle Aged, Phenotype, Body Mass Index, Databases, Factual, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Body Size, Body Fat Distribution, Genome-Wide Association Study, Diet, High-Fat

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