National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology
RESEARCH ARTICLE
A comprehensive study on relationship between body mass index and ABO
blood group in patients in and around Lucknow region
Umama Kidwai1, Sara Siddiqui2, Samreen Farooqui2, Naureen Farooqui3, Asad Khalid4,
Mohammad Amzarul5
Department of Physiology, Chandra Dental College, Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2Department of Physiology, Integral Institute of
1
Medical Sciences and Research, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India, 3 Glasgow, United Kingdom, 4Department of Anesthesia, ERA’s Lucknow
Medical College and Hospital, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India, 5Department of General Medicine, Government Medical College, Kannauj,
Uttar Pradesh, India
Correspondence to: Mohammad Amzarul, E-mail: [email protected]
Received: March 04, 2022; Accepted: May 01, 2022
ABSTRACT
Background: ABO blood group is the most important of all blood group systems. A and B antibodies are present naturally
in individuals from birth who lack the corresponding antigen on their red cells. Aims and Objective: The main aim of
this study was to find out that whether there is any association between ABO blood group and body mass index (BMI)
or there is no association between ABO blood group and BMI. Material and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study
which was conducted in the Department of Physiology Of IIMSR, Lucknow in collaboration with department of Medicine.
Data collection was done over a period of 6 months and a sample size came out to be 384 Anthropometric parameters
were recorded using a standardized scale and blood group sampling was done in department of physiology using slide
agglutination method. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 17.0. Result: Blood group distribution of individuals
with normal BMI was 6.7% with O negative, 3.6% with O positive, 5.4% with A negative, 4.1% with A positive, 6.5 %
with B negative, 2.8 % with B positive, 10.4% with AB negative, and 8.3% with AB positive. Conclusion: A significant
association was found between the blood groups and obesity. The individuals with blood groups A and AB are more likely
to develop obesity than the individuals with blood group O.
KEY WORDS: Obesity; Anthropometry; Blood group; Body mass index
INTRODUCTION who found three dissimilar Blood Types (A, B, and O) in
1900 from Serological Difference in the Blood Called the
A B O Blood Group is Most Important of all Blood Group Landsteiner Law. Another blood type was discovered by Des
systems. A and B antibodies are present naturally in Casterllo and sturli in 1902.
individuals from birth who lack the corresponding antigen
on their red cells.[1] Australian scientist Karl Landsteiner was Body mass index included in anthropometric measurements.
the first to discover the ABO Blood Group A and B System, It is the ratio of weight (kg) to the square of Height (meter²).[2]
Access this article online BMI can be calculated according to the formula: Weight in
Website: www.njppp.com Quick Response code kilograms/(height in meter).[2] Body mass index (BMI) is
used to describe the nutritional status of a person. It gives
information about the “fatness” or “fitness” of a person’s
DOI: 10.5455/njppp.2022.12.03101202201052022 body.[1] This study was done to find out that is there any
association of ABO blood group with body mass index
(BMI) or not.
National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology Online 2022. © 2022 Mohammad Amzarul, et al. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative
Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creative commons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), allowing third parties to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format and to
remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially, provided the original work is properly cited and states its license.
1 National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology 2022 | Vol 12 | Issue 12 (Online First)
Kidwai et al. Relationship between body mass index and ABO blood group
MATERIALS AND METHODS between the ABO blood groups and obese persons. The blood
group distribution of individuals with normal Body Mass
This study was conducted in the Physiology department Index was 6.7% with O negative, 3.6% with O positive, 5.4%
of Integral Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, with A negative, 4.1% with A positive, 6.5% with B negative,
Lucknow in collaboration with department of Medicine. 2.8% with B positive, 10.4% with AB negative, and 8.3%
Data collection was done for a period of six months from with AB positive. The individuals having blood Groups A
January 2021 to June 2021. Sample size came out to be 384 and AB are more likely to become obese than the individuals
subjects hence. Body weight of the subject was measured having blood group O [Tables 1-3].
using calibrated weighting scale, without Shoes, in standing
position in kg. Height was measured by using standard height
DISCUSSION
meter. BMI (kg/m²) was then calculated following standard
procedure.
This study was done with the purpose to find out that whether
ABO blood groups have any correlation with obesity or not. If
Then for blood group estimation, we labeled one end as
there is any correlation that exists, we can provide a preventive
anti-a and the other end was labeled as anti-b. A drop of
measure to that group which has highest vulnerability to
anti-a serum, and a drop of anti-b is added to the respective
become obese. While some studies have already established
two ends of slide.
that blood group plays an important role in disease risk,[2,5] a
more definitive correlation is yet to be established.
Then one drop of blood is added to either end of slide, and
for mixing we used, different wooden sticks.The results
Various researches have stated that ABO blood type and body
were read directly. If agglutination occurs with the anti-A
weight may be biologically related, there is a probability
test serum then the blood group is labeled as A, Group B is
assigned if clumping occurred with the anti-B test serum. If
agglutination occurred with both test serum then the blood Table 1: Relationship between obesity and blood group
group is AB, if there was no agglutination in either case then Body mass Blood groups
the blood group is O In this case subject have blood group A index Blood Blood Blood Blood
type.[3,4] Group‑A Group‑AB Group‑B Group‑O
n % n % n % n %
Inclusion Criteria Underweight 11 2.8 0 0.0 20 5.2 19 4.9
Normal 45 11.7 65 16.9 45 11.7 55 14.3
1. Male subjects with the age group of 19–39 years
2. Subjects who have signed the consent form Overweight 26 6.7 25 6.5 18 4.6 15 3.9
Obese 14 3.6 8 2.0 7 1.8 11 2.8
Exclusion Criteria
Table 2: Percentage of subjects who are underweight,
The following criteria were excluded from the study:
1. Drug addict and alcoholic people normal, overweight, and obese
2. Elderly peoples Body mass index n %
Underweight 34 8.85
Normal 204 53.12
RESULTS
Overweight 86 22.39
Blood Group B was found to be the most commonly associated Obese 60 15.62
blood group with obesity. To differentiate between obese
and non-obese BMI was used. No significant association
Table 3: Association between obesity and blood group
was found between ABO Blood Groups and obesity. More
Blood group Normal Obese
awareness is required to be spread mainly among the younger
generations for lifestyle changes as a means of primordial n % n %
Prevention to avoid obesity and over-weight. Obesity Is O‑Negative 15 3.9 26 6.7
Said To Be An Inflammatory Disease And This phenomenon O‑Positive 44 11.4 14 3.6
May Be Linked To A hypothesized ABO blood antigens and A‑Negative 20 4.9 20 5.4
their regulatory effect on Inflammation.[5] Although such a A‑Positive 25 6.5 16 4.1
molecular pathway or any other has not been established, B‑Negative 35 9.11 25 6.5
suggesting that association Between ABO And BMI May
B‑Positive 24 6.2 11 2.8
Be Arbitrary. Evidences suggesting the ABO system as a
AB Negative 0 0.0 40 10.4
genotype marker for obesity is still under investigation. In
this study a relation that was significant enough was found AB Positive 37 9.6 32 8.3
2022 | Vol 12 | Issue 12 (Online First) National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology 2
Kidwai et al. Relationship between body mass index and ABO blood group
that a correlation exists between thrombic factors like FVIII CONCLUSION
and the non-blood group O, these individuals have higher
FVIII.[3,6] Increased BMI was related with a higher level This study found a statistically significant relation between
of FVIII, another school of thought holds the view that ABO blood groups and obesity. The blood group B and Rh
individuals with blood type O tend to have low levels of the blood group were found to be more susceptible to develop
von Willebrand Factor (Vwf),[7] which is a protein engaged in obesity as compared to blood groups O and A whereas the
blood clotting. Hence, this study was conducted to ascertain risk of developing obesity in the blood group AB was lower
these facts. as compared to other blood groups.
An Iranian based study reviewed body weights, body lengths,
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How to cite this article: Kidwai U, Siddiqui S, Farooqui S,
Farooqui N, Khalid A, Amzarul M. A comprehensive study on
Limitations of Study relationship between body mass index and abo blood group
This study was done on a limited number of patients attending in patients in and around Lucknow region. Natl J Physiol
the medicine OPD of our college for a limited period of time Pharm Pharmacol 2022;12 (Online First). Doi: 10.5455/
njppp.2022.12.03101202201052022
interval.The empirical results reported herein are subject to
demographical, ethnic variations along with differences in
Source of Support: Nil, Conflicts of Interest: None declared.
their environment and dietary habits.
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