To our knowledge, studies investigating common gene polymorphisms and their correlations with increased body mass index have not thus far focused extensively on a role for DNA repair glycosylases such as Ogg1 or Neil1. Given the emerging link between these glycosylases and metabolic syndrome, a retrospective screen of specimens collected in previous studies may help shed light on potential correlations between inactivating mutations in Ogg1 and metabolic disease. Here, NEIL1 is linked to metabolic syndrome.