Threonine allele in codon 54 of the fatty acid binding protein 2 gene does not modify the fatty acid composition of serum lipids in obese subjects

Intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) participates in the metabolism of fatty acids in the intestinal enterocytes. Threonine encoding allele in codon 54 of the I-FABP gene has been suggested as regulating the absorption of long-chain fatty acids. We examined the fatty acid composition of serum lipid fractions and the concentration of serum free fatty acids after an overnight fast in obese subjects, aged 24–56 years, on their habitual diet. The body mass index of the subjects ranged from 29.7 to 43.3 kg m⁻². Six subjects were homozygous for the Thr-54 allele of the I-FABP gene, 37 subjects were heterozygous for the Thr-54/Ala-54 allele and 24 subjects were homozygous for the Ala-54 allele. We did not find any consistent differences in the proportions of long-chain fatty acids in serum triglycerides, cholesterol esters or phospholipids, but the concentration of serum free fatty acids tended to be higher in subjects who were homozygous for the Thr-54 allele (P = 0.13, for trend). In conclusion, our findings suggest that a polymorphism at codon 54 of the I-FABP2 gene does not substantially modify the fatty acid composition of serum lipids in obese Finns.