Objective   To study the correlation between the single nucleotide polymorphism of rs9939609 in FTO (fat mass and obesity-related gene) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).    Methods   Genotyping of FTO rs9939609 polymorphism was performed in 167 patients with T2DM and 263 normal health controls using an allelic discrimination assay with TaqMan probes. Genotype and gene frequencies were studied and counted in T2DM patients and control individuals. The metabolic parameters of those with different genotypes were contrasted in order to investigate the correlation of the polymorphism and T2MD.    Results   The frequency of the A allele carriers was significantly higher in the T2DM group (16.17%) than in the control group (9.89%). The A-allele of rs9939609 significantly increased DM risk with an allelic odd ratio (OR) of 2.012 ([95%CI=1.266 to 3.197

Chi-square=8.759

P=0.003). A common variant in the FTO gene was associated with T2DM through an effect on body mass index (BMI). The waist circumference and postprandial 2-hour plasma glucose with AA+AT genotype in T2DM group was significantly higher than that with TT genotype.    Conclusion   These results indicated that A allele polymorphism of rs9939609 site in FTO gene might be a risk factor for T2DM

suggesting that FTO rs9939609 might be a susceptible gene of T2DM and arteriosclerosis in the Chinese Han population.