Applied nutritional investigationEffect of Ala54Thr polymorphism of FABP2 on anthropometric and biochemical variables in response to a moderate-fat diet

ObjectiveTo analyze the effect of the fatty acid-binding protein (FABP2) gene Ala54Thr polymorphism on anthropometric and biochemical variables in response to a moderate-fat diet in overweight or obese subjects.MethodsOne hundred nine subjects with a body mass index ≥25 kg/m2 were studied. Participants underwent a dietary intervention that consisted of 30% fat (saturated fat <7% of total calories), 15% protein, and 55% carbohydrates. The FABP2 genotypes were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Anthropometric and biochemical data were measured at baseline, 1 mo, and 2 mo of nutritional intervention.ResultsThe mean age was 38.6 ± 11.3 y and the mean body mass index 32.7 ± 6.1 kg/m2, with 20 men (18%) and 89 women (82%). Fifty-three patients (48.6%) had genotype Ala54Ala (wild-type group) and 56 patients had genotype Ala54Thr/Thr54Thr (51.4%, mutant group). At baseline, no significant difference was found between the FABP2 genotypes groups, except for the carbohydrate intake and resting metabolic rate, which were higher in the Ala54Thr/Thr54Thr group (P < 0.05). At 2 mo, participants had lost 6.8% of their initial weight. The Ala54Thr/Thr54Thr group compared with the Ala54Ala group showed significant decreases in the parameters of weight (−7.5 versus −4.2 kg), body mass index (−2.1 versus −1.2 kg/m2), waist circumference (−7.6 versus −5.2 cm), waist-to-hip ratio (−0.04 versus −0.02), and C-reactive protein (−1.4 versus −0.76 mg/L), respectively (P < 0.05). After the resting metabolic rate was adjusted, the decreases in waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and C-reactive protein remained significant between the two groups.ConclusionsThis study showed that the Thr54 allele carriers responded better to a moderate-fat diet.