Evaluate the collective function of references cited together in a given text segment.
Classify their combined role into one of the following categories: 'method', 'background', or 'result'.

Text:As for rs846910, a haplotype containing the A allele has been previously shown to be associated with higher HSD11B1 mRNA levels and activity in the adipose tissue of southern European whites (Gambineri et al., 2011).
Category: