Effects of the FABP2 A54T mutation on triglyceride metabolism of viscerally obese men

Objective: Viscerally obese individuals are frequently characterized by a proatherogenic condition. A missense mutation (A54T) in the fatty acid binding protein type 2 (FABP2 ) gene has been associated with insulin resistance and obesity. This study examined the effect of this mutation on lipoprotein levels in viscerally obese hyperinsulinemic condition. Research Methods and Procedures: A total of 217 men were assigned to one of two groups based on their FABP2 A54T polymorphism. Results: The two genotypic groups showed no difference in either physiological characteristics or lipoprotein/lipid profile, before or after statistical adjustment for age. From this initial sample, 50 men accepted to have their postprandial lipid response assessed and 10 T54/A54 heterozygotes were then individually matched for visceral adipose tissue accumulation and fasting plasma triglyceride (TG) levels with 10 A54/A54 homozygotes. High‐density lipoprotein (HDL)‐TG levels were significantly increased in the fasting state as well as 4 hours after the test meal (p = 0.04 and p = 0.0008, respectively) in men bearing the A54T mutation. In addition, the area under the curve of postprandial HDL‐TG levels was also significantly higher among T54/A54 heterozygotes than among A54/A54 homozygotes (p = 0.04). Interestingly, fasting TG concentrations in large TG‐rich lipoproteins (large‐TRL; Sf > 400) were correlated with HDL‐TG levels at 4 (r = 0.74, p = 0.01) and 8 hours (r = 0.73, p = 0.01) after the test meal in T54/A54 heterozygotes only. Discussion: The FABP2 A54T missense mutation may contribute to the TG enrichment of HDL in the postprandial state that, in turn, may alter the risk of atherosclerotic vascular disease