ADIPOR2 variant is associated with higher fasting glucose level in non-diabetic Chinese Han population

A high but normal fasting plasma glucose level in adults is a marker for insulin resistance and future development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. We aimed to investigate whether ADIPOR2 variants are associated with increased fasting plasma glucose (FPG) in non-diabetic Chinese Han subjects who had normal FPG levels. This study included 2038 subjects among the non-diabetic Chinese Han population. The ADIPOR2 polymorphisms were genotyped by the TaqMan method. For the analysis, participants were divided into low-normal FPG group (FPG < 4.88 mmol/L) and high-normal FPG group (6.1 mmol/L > FPG ≥ 4.88 mmol/L). We identified five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of ADIPOR2 gene: rs10773989, rs2370055, rs9300298, rs10773983, and rs13611594. There was no significant difference in FPG levels between different genotypes of rs10773989, rs2370055, rs9300298, and rs13611594. Our data showed a significant association of rs10773983 with higher FPG levels, fasting insulin levels, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in A-allele carriers (p = 0.006, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). The subjects in high FPG group had higher median fasting insulin level (9.25 vs 8.16 μIU/mL, p = 0.003) and higher HOMA-IR (2.21 vs 1.58, p < 0.001) than those in normal FPG group. Subjects with the A-allele of rs10773983 compared to subjects with G-allele had 1.222-fold higher risk for high-normal FPG (OR = 1.222, 95%CI = 1.010–1.478, p = 0.039). Our findings suggest that ADIPOR2 rs10773983 polymorphism may be associated with an increased risk of high-normal FPG among non-diabetic Chinese Han subjects who have normal FPG levels.