A high-fat diet and the threonine-encoding allele (Thr54) polymorphism of fatty acid-binding protein 2 reduce plasma triglyceride-rich lipoproteins

Abstract

The threonine-encoding allele (Thr54) of the fatty acid-binding protein 2 (FABP2) DNA polymorphism is associated with increased triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoproteins (TRL). We hypothesized that the TRL response to diets of varied fat content is affected by the FABP2 A54T polymorphism, specifically that a high-fat diet would reduce TRL and that the Thr54 allele would have an enhanced response. Sixteen healthy, postmenopausal women completed a crossover dietary intervention that included three 8-week, isoenergetic diet treatments. The treatments consisted of high fat (40% of energy as fat), low fat (20% of energy), and low fat + n-3 fatty acids (20% of energy plus 3% as n-3 fatty acids). Eight subjects were homozygous for the wild type (Ala54/Ala54) of the FABP2 polymorphism, whereas 8 subjects had at least 1 Thr54 allele (7, Ala54/Thr54; 1, Thr54/Thr54). High-fat diet showed significantly reduced plasma TGs, chylomicron TG, and very low-density lipoprotein TG from baseline in all participants. Although carriers of the Thr54 allele of the FABP2 polymorphism had significantly reduced TRL, there is no evidence of an interaction, which does not support our hypothesis. The alanine-encoding allele did not influence the dietary effects on the plasma lipids.

Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Figures

Figure 1

Repeated measures analysis of variance with all values reported as mean change from baseline with standard error bar, n = 8 for each genotype group. Bar graph showing change from baseline of plasma triglyceride in each Fatty Acid Binding Protein 2 (FABP2) genotype group after consuming a High Fat, Low Fat, and Low Fat with high n-3 fatty acid diet. Error bars indicate standard error. A/A; Ala54 homozygous group for FABP2 polymorphism. A/T; Ala54/Thr54 heterozygotes and Thr54 homozygous group for FABP2 polymorphism. * indicates a significant change from baseline, P < 0.05.

Figure 2

Repeated measures analysis of variance with all values reported as change from baseline mean with standard error bar, n = 8 for each genotype group. Bar graph showing change from baseline of chylomicron triglyceride in each Fatty Acid Binding Protein 2 (FABP2) genotype group after consuming a High Fat, Low Fat, and Low Fat with high n-3 fatty acid diet. A/A; Ala54 homozygous group for FABP2 polymorphism. Error bars indicate standard error. A/T; Ala54/Thr54 heterozygotes and Thr54 homozygous group for FABP2 polymorphism. * indicates a significant change from baseline, P < 0.05.

Figure 3

Repeated measures analysis of variance with all values reported as mean change from baseline with standard error bar, n = 8 for each genotype group. Bar graph showing change from baseline of VLDL and chylomicron remnant triglyceride in each Fatty Acid Binding Protein 2 (FABP2) genotype group after consuming a High Fat, Low Fat, and Low Fat with high n-3 fatty acid diet. A/A; Ala54 homozygous group for FABP2 polymorphism. Error bars indicate standard error. A/T; Ala54/Thr54 heterozygotes and Thr54 homozygous group for FABP2 polymorphism. * indicates a significant change from baseline, P < 0.05.