Discovery of a "Chinese" gene capable of fighting obesity

Chinese scientists have discovered a gene that may help individuals fight obesity, which is considered a major health problem around the world.

This discovery could help us better understand how genes influence obesity. It may also lead to new ways to treat and prevent this condition.

According to the World Health Organization, more than one billion people in the world were obese in 2022. Obesity is a major health problem around the world because it is linked to risks such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

As medical research advances, we learn more about obesity. This includes understanding its many effects on health.

Despite the importance of diet and economic development, new research conducted by Professor Jin Li and Associate Professor Cheng Hongxiang from Fudan University shows that genetics could also be very important in how some people avoid becoming obese.

Their study analyzed 2,877 samples from residents in Guangxi, Jiangsu and Henan, as reported by the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

Scientists have found a type of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) common in southern China and Southeast Asia that appears to help protect against obesity.

Professor Lee said: “Mitochondria are often referred to as the powerhouses of the cell, generating 80 to 90% of the energy needed for various human behaviours.” He explained that mitochondrial function has long been linked to obesity.

Unlike DNA, which is inherited from both parents, mtDNA is usually passed only from the mother. It is more susceptible to genetic mutations that are useful in evolutionary analysis.

Professor Lee and his team conducted linkage analyzes of 16 haplogroups (a group of genes in an organism that are inherited together from a common ancestor) of mitochondrial DNA.

They found that a specific variant group, called M7, was consistently associated with a lower risk of obesity.

Further analysis identified a subset, called M7b1a1, as the most likely source of this protective effect.

A previous study conducted by Professor Kong Qingping of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2019 showed that the M7b1a1 subgroup is mostly found in southern China and mainland Southeast Asia. This subgroup is also found in 5 to 14% of the southern Han Chinese population (Han people).

Scientists believe that decreased mitochondrial function may explain why M7b1a1 reduces the risk of obesity.

“Reduced mitochondrial function represents less energy conservation and increased heat production, which may lead to less weight gain,” Professor Lee wrote in the study.

These findings provide a new way to look at how genes influence traits associated with obesity. Professor Lee and his team believe their research could help develop new ways to combat obesity by studying genes and how mitochondria work.

The study was published in the journal Genetics and Genomics.