Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a sympathetic neurotransmitter that has been implicated in various disorders including obesity, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular diseases.
As a major peripheral vascular contractive neurotransmitter, through interactions with its receptors, neuropeptide Y has been implicated in the pathology and progression of diabetes, by promoting the proliferation of endothelial cells and vascular fibrosis, which may contribute to diabetes-induced cardiovascular disease.
The objective of the present study was to evaluate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the NPY gene with obesity, metabolic syndrome features, and inflammatory and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk biomarkers in Spanish children.
Pro7 substitution has been associated with the following: plasma NPY concentration, the risk factors of cardiovascular disease, birth weight of children, serum triglyceride concentration, and the function of vascular endothelium.