It is particularly notable that we uncovered a genome-wide significant finding with rs11118316 at LYPLAL1 for the VAT/SAT ratio overall. The VAT/SAT ratio is a metric of propensity to store visceral as compared to subcutaneous fat and has been shown to be associated with cardiometabolic risk [47]. We previously observed associations of a SNP in this gene in association with WHR-adjusted-for-BMI in the GIANT consortium [32], and LYPLAL1 has also been associated with cardiometabolic traits [48] and fatty liver [49]. LYPLAL1 encodes the lysophospholipase-like protein 1 and has been shown to be upregulated in the visceral and subcutaneous fat of obese subjects [50].
