title: Ala54Thr fatty acid-binding protein 2 (FABP2) polymorphism in recurrent depression: associations with fatty acid concentrations and waist circumference.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fatty acid (FA)-alterations may mediate the mutual association between Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, etiology of observed FA-alterations in MDD and CVD remains largely unclear. An interesting candidate may be a mutation in the fatty acid-binding protein 2 (FABP2)-gene, because it regulates dietary FA-uptake. Therefore, we aimed to test the hypotheses that in MDD-patients the FABP2 Ala54Thr-polymorphism would be (I) more prevalent than in sex- and age-matched controls, (II) associated with observed alterations in FA-metabolism, and (III) associated with CVD-risk factor waist circumference.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured concentrations of 29 different erythrocyte FAs, FABP2-genotype, and waist circumference in recurrent MDD-patients and matched never-depressed controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FABP2-genotype distribution did not significantly differ between the 137 MDD-patients and 73 matched controls. However, patients with the Ala54Thr-polymorphism had (I) higher concentrations of especially eicosadienoic acid (C20:2ω6; P=.009) and other 20-carbon FAs, and associated (II) lower waist circumference (P=.019). In addition, FABP2-genotype effects on waist circumference in patients seemed (I) mediated by its effect on C20:2ω6, and (II) different from controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although Ala54Thr-polymorphism distribution was not associated with recurrent MDD, our results indicate that FABP2 may play a role in the explanation of observed FA-alterations in MDD. For Ala54Thr-polymorphism patients, potentially adaptive conversion of increased bioavailable dietary precursors into eicosadienoic acid instead of arachidonic acid might be related to a low waist circumference. Because this is the first investigation of these associations, replication is warranted, preferably by nutrigenetic studies applying lipidomics and detailed dietary assessment.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Roel J T
authors: RJ
authors: Mocking
authors: Anja
authors: A
authors: Lok
authors: Johanna
authors: J
authors: Assies
authors: Maarten W J
authors: MW
authors: Koeter
authors: Ieke
authors: I
authors: Visser
authors: Henricus G
authors: HG
authors: Ruhé
authors: Claudi L H
authors: CL
authors: Bockting
authors: Aart H
authors: AH
authors: Schene
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000409:Alanine / Q000235:genetics*; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000097:blood; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000235:genetics*; D004537:Eicosanoic Acids / Q000097:blood; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013912:Threonine / Q000235:genetics*; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D004537:Eicosanoic Acids; C493404:FABP2 protein, human; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D005227:Fatty Acids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D013912:Threonine; D000409:Alanine