The Ala54Thr polymorphism of the FABP2 gene influences the postprandial fatty acids in patients with type 2 diabetes.

CONTEXT: The Ala54Thr polymorphism of FABP2 gene increases affinity of intestinal fatty acid-binding protein 2 for long-chain dietary fatty acids (FA) in subjects without diabetes. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to evaluate whether the Ala54Thr polymorphism of the FABP2 gene influences the FA composition in chylomicrons after a standard meal in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: This clinical trial studied 11 patients with TT and 15 patients with AA genotypes for Ala54Thr polymorphism of FABP2 gene selected from a Brazilian type 2 diabetic cohort. FA in chylomicrons (gas chromatography), plasma glucose, and serum triglycerides were measured after an overnight fast at baseline and, after a standard test meal, at 2-h intervals during 8 h. RESULTS: During the test meal, the curves response of unsaturated FA of patients with TT genotype were different from patients with AA genotype: only patients with TT genotype exhibited an increase, with a postprandial peak at 6 h in monounsaturated FA [0.479 (0.248-0.709) to 1.674 (0.698-2.650) g/liter], polyunsaturated FA [0.338 (0.154-0.522) to 1.827 (0.389-3.265) g/liter], and trans-unsaturated FA [0.025 (0.013-0.037) to 0.122 (0.040-0.205) g/liter] (generalized estimating equations for repeated measurements: P<0.05 for all). The increase of saturated FA did not reach statistical significance. Diabetes treatment, previous diet, FA at baseline, and the increase of plasma glucose and triglycerides during the test meal were not different between TT and AA genotypes. CONCLUSIONS: The TT genotype in Ala54Thr polymorphism of FABP2 gene in patients with type 2 diabetes increased dietary FA absorption, and this might increase the susceptibility to the effects of dietary lipids.