title: FABP2 gene polymorphism and metabolic syndrome in elderly people of croatian descent.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a multifactorial disorder in which dyslipidemia plays an important role. Fatty acid-binding protein 2 (FABP 2) is responsible for transport of free fatty acids in the intestinal endothelium cells. FABP2-genetic variants might affect plasma lipid concentrations and intracellular lipid transport. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between FABP2 Ala54Thr genetic polymorphism and metabolic syndrome and some biochemical and anthropological parameters in elderly subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study included 140 men and 176 women older than 70 years. Fasting serum concentration of glucose, lipid parameters, total proteins and C-reactive protein were determined by standardized methods. Presence (MetS(+)) or absence (MetS(-)) of MetS was determined according to criteria of the International Diabetes Federation. FABP2 genetic polymorphism Ala54Thr (rs1799883) was genotyped with PCR-RFPL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The genotype frequencies for Ala/Ala, Ala/Thr and Thr/Thr genotype were 60, 36 and 6 in MetS(-), and 131, 70 and 13 in MetS(+), respectively, without statistical significance (P = 0.567). Ala/Ala genotype was a subgroup of non-carriers, while Ala/Thr and Thr/Thr genotypes were Thr54-carriers. Median triglyceride concentration was significantly lower in carriers then in non-carriers for whole MetS(+) group (P = 0.050); there were no significant difference between men with MetS (P = 0.144), but there was a difference between women with MetS (P = 0.020). T-test showed that mean HDL cholesterol concentrations in MetS(+) group for Thr54-carriers was significantly higher in whole group (P = 0.001), and for both genders (men P = 0.039; women P = 0.004) as compared to non-carriers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FABP2 genetic polymorphism is associated with lower triglyceride and higher HDL-cholesterol concentrations in elderly subjects with MetS. This genetic variation might be a useful marker for understanding dyslipidemia in MetS.
authors: Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Clinical Chemistry, University of Applied Health Studies-Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors: Lana Feher
authors: LF
authors: Turkovic
authors: Alica
authors: A
authors: Pizent
authors: Slavica
authors: S
authors: Dodig
authors: Mladen
authors: M
authors: Pavlovic
authors: Daria
authors: D
authors: Pasalic
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000378:metabolism; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; C493404:FABP2 protein, human; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D002097:C-Reactive Protein