Novel genomic variants related to visceral adiposity index (VAI) and body adiposity index (BAI) in Indian sib-pairs

Obesity is among the leading public health threats globally. Over the last few years, visceral adiposity index (VAI), and body adiposity index (BAI), derived from anthropometric, and biochemical measures, have gained importance as a measure of obesity. However, unlike other common indices like body mass index, and waist circumference, the genetic predisposition of VAI, and BAI under-examined.

2265 sib-pairs from Indian Migration Study were used for examining the association of genetic variants from the Cardio-Metabochip array with VAI, and BAI. Mixed linear regression models were run, and all inferences were based on the within-sib component of the Fulker’s association models. Gene-environment/lifestyle interaction analyses were also undertaken.

rs6659428 at LOC400796 | SEC16B (β = 0.26, SE = 0.05), and rs7611535 at DRD3 | LOC645180 (β = 0.18, SE = 0.04) were associated with VAI at suggestive significance value of <8.21 × 10⁻⁶. For BAI, rs73300702 at JAZF1-AS1 (β = 0.27, SE = 0.06), was the top hit at p value < 8.21 × 10⁻⁶. Further, rs6659428 showed marginal effect modification with rural/urban location (β = 0.26, SE = 0.13, p value = 0.047), and rs73300702 with physical activity (β = −0.29,SE = 0.14, p value = 0.034).

We report three novel genetic loci for VAI, and BAI in Indians that are important indicators of adiposity. These findings need to be replicated and validated with larger samples from different ethnicities. Further, functional studies for understanding the biological mechanisms of these adiposity indices need to be undertaken to understand the underlying pathophysiology.