Anthropometric and lipid profile of individuals with severe obesity carrying the fatty acid-binding protein-2 Thr54 allele

Genetic polymorphism of fatty acid binding protein-2 in hyperlipidemic Asian Indians in North India

BACKGROUND

Fatty acid binding protein-2 (FABP-2) is involved in the metabolism of lipids in the intestine. FABP-2 Ala54Thr polymorphism involves a transition of G to A at codon 54 of FABP-2, resulting in an amino acid substitution Ala54 to Thr54 and is associated with elevated fasting triglycerides in some hyperlipidemic populations. In current genome builds and gene databases the variant of the Ala54Thr FABP-2 (rs 1 799 883) is annotated as c.163A>G (p. Thr55Ala).

AIM AND OBJECTIVE

The status of this polymorphism in hyperlipidemic Asian Indians from North India has not been investigated. This study was aimed to evaluate the distribution of the polymorphic variants of the Ala54Thr FABP-2 and their association with lipids in hyperlipidemic subjects.

METHODS

Ala54Thr FABP-2 polymorphism in both hyperlipidemic (n = 210) and normolipidemic (n = 342) subjects was assessed by PCR-RFLP.

RESULTS

Ala54Thr genotypes and alleles distribution did not differ between the hyperlipidemic and normolipidemic groups. The heterozygous genotype FABP-2 Ala/Thr was significantly associated with higher levels of triglycerides and very low-density lipoproteins as compared to the homozygous variant (Thr/Thr) genotype and the wild type homozygous (Ala/Ala) genotype.

CONCLUSIONS

The heterozygous genotype FABP-2 Ala54Thr is a risk factor for the development of hypertriglyceridemia and increased levels of VLDL-c in Asian Indians from North India.

Genetics, genomics, and diet interactions in obesity in the Latin American environment

Obesity is a chronic disease characterized by abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that could impact an individual's health; moreover, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared obesity a global epidemic since 1997. In Latin America, in 2016, reports indicated that 24.2% of the adult population was obese. The environmental factor or specific behaviors like dietary intake or physical activity have a vital role in the development of a condition like obesity, but the interaction of genes could contribute to that predisposition. Hence, it is vital to understand the relationship between genes and disease. Indeed, genetics in nutrition studies the genetic variations and their effect on dietary response; while genomics in nutrition studies the role of nutrients in gene expression. The present review represents a compendium of the dietary behaviors in the Latin American environment and the interactions of genes with their single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with obesity, including the risk allele frequencies in the Latin American population. Additionally, a bibliographical selection of several studies has been included; these studies examined the impact that dietary patterns in Latin American environments have on the expression of numerous genes involved in obesity-associated metabolic pathways.

Evaluation of Dietary Assessment Tools Used in Bariatric Population

Severe obesity is associated with major health issues and bariatric surgery is still the only treatment to offer significant and durable weight loss. Assessment of dietary intakes is an important component of the bariatric surgery process. Objective: To document the dietary assessment tools that have been used with patients targeted for bariatric surgery and patients who had bariatric surgery and explore the extent to which these tools have been validated. Methods: A literature search was conducted to identify studies that used a dietary assessment tool with patients targeted for bariatric surgery or who had bariatric surgery. Results: 108 studies were included. Among all studies included, 27 used a dietary assessment tool that had been validated either as part of the study per se (n = 11) or in a previous study (n = 16). Every tool validated per se in the cited studies was validated among a bariatric population, while none of the tools validated in previous studies were validated in this population. Conclusion: Few studies in bariatric populations used a dietary assessment tool that had been validated in this population. Additional studies are needed to develop valid and robust dietary assessment tools to improve the quality of nutritional studies among bariatric patients.

FABP2 Ala54Thr Polymorphism and Post-Training Changes of Body Composition and Biochemical Parameters in Caucasian Women

The functional FABP2 Ala54Thr polymorphism (rs1799883) is strongly associated with lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, although the function of its potential modifying effect on training-induced changes in obesity-related parameters is still unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of the Ala54Thr polymorphism on post-training changes of selected body mass and body composition measurements, as well as with biochemical parameters of energy metabolism. Accordingly, alleles and genotypes distribution in a group of 168 young, nonobese Caucasian women measured for chosen body composition parameters, lipid profile, and glucose levels before and after the completion of a 12-week aerobic training program were studied. Although the obtained results showed changes in body mass, BMI, FM, %FM, FFM, TBW, HDL-C, and glucose levels during the training program, none of the examined parameters changed significantly across the FABP2 genotypes. Instead, we found a main effect of genotype on BMI (p = 0.033), with carriers of the Thr54 allele having a higher BMI during the whole study period compared with the Ala54 carriers. We confirm that the FABP2 Ala54Thr polymorphism may help identify women at risk for overweight and obesity. However, we did not notice evidence of an interaction between physical activity and the Ala54Thr polymorphism on the examined parameters.

FABP2, LEPR223, LEP656, and FTO Polymorphisms: Effect on Weight Loss 2 Years After Bariatric Surgery

PURPOSE

Differences in weight loss outcomes after bariatric surgery may be related to individual preoperative characteristics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential effect of fatty acid binding protein-2 (rs1799883), leptin receptor (LEP223, rs1137101 and LEP656, rs1805094), and fat mass and obesity-related (rs9939609) genotypes on weight loss 2 years after bariatric surgery in Brazilian patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Prospective observational study involving 105 patients (lost to follow-up, 25.7%). In the preoperative period, patients were clinically evaluated and a fasting blood sample for genetic analysis (by real-time DNA amplification technique) was collected. From the patient's medical records, follow-up weight loss (3, 6, 12, 24 months) was obtained. Percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) was examined by pairwise comparison across the polymorphisms.

RESULTS

At baseline, the mean weight was 127.5 (23.3) kg and age 43.1 (10.9) years old. The %EWL was significant over time (p < 0.01). Only the LEP223 genotype showed association (p < 0.01). Up to 6 months after surgery, no differences were observed. At 12 months, a significant difference (p = 0.03) between AA (n = 19) and GG (n = 34) groups was observed, with 76.5% EWL versus 52.0%, respectively. This difference remained at 24 months. Other genotypes did not present any significant association.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a different evolution of weight loss in carriers of the LEP223 after bariatric surgery. The AA genotype seems to be associated with a higher weight loss. However, this pattern was evident only at 12 months after surgery.