Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter to the Editor
  • Published:

The Ala54Thr polymorphism in the fatty acid-binding protein 2 gene leads to higher food intake in Japanese women

Molecular Psychiatry volume 14, pages 466–467 (2009)Cite this article

It is commonly believed that eating behavior plays an important role as an environmental factor that affects the risk of adult-onset diseases such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes. The change in energy balance arising from opulence often results in obesity, which increases the risk of metabolic disease. Genetic factors are also important components involved in the pathogenesis of the above-mentioned diseases, because gene variations can directly influence the functional properties or expression levels of proteins in humans. In addition, family and twin studies have suggested the existence of a genetic influence on food preference.1 The genes encoding the adrenergic and serotonergic receptors have been reported to be associated with dietary patterns.2, 3, 4 How these genes affect food intake, however, remains unclear.

Fatty acid-binding protein 2 (FABP2) is expressed only in the absorptive epithelial cells of the small intestine, and is involved in the cellular uptake and transport of long-chain fatty acids.5 A well-known single nucleotide polymorphism in the FABP2 gene, the missense Ala54Thr variation, is common in diverse populations.6 Many, but not all, association studies on this variation in insulin resistance and fasting, or postprandial blood glucose and triglyceride levels have identified a relationship between genotypes and phenotypes.7, 8 In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the FABP2 gene polymorphism is associated with food consumption and nutritional intake.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Reed DR, Bachmanov AA, Beauchamp GK, Tordoff MG, Price RA . Behav Genet 1997; 27: 373–387.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Aoyama M, Shidoji Y, Saimei M, Tsunawake N, Ichinose M . Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2003; 309: 261–265.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Mäestu J, Villa I, Parik J, Paaver M, Merenäkk L, Eensoo D et al. Mol Psychiatry 2007; 12: 520–521.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Prado-Lima PS, Cruz IBM, Schwanke CHA, Netto CA, Licinio J . Mol Psychiatry 2006; 11: 889–891.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Baier LJ, Sacchettini JC, Knowler WC, Eads J, Paolisso G, Tataranni PA et al. J Clin Invest 1995; 95: 1281–1287.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Weiss EP, Brown MD, Shuldiner AR, Hagberg JM . Physiol Genomics 2002; 10: 145–157.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Marín C, Pérez-Jiménez F, Gómez P, Delgado J, Paniagua JA, Lozano A et al. Am J Clin Nutr 2005; 82: 196–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Weiss EP, Brandauer J, Kulaputana O, Ghiu IA, Wohn CR, Phares DA et al. Am J Clin Nutr 2007; 85: 102–108.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Haga H, Yamada R, Ohnishi Y, Nakamura Y, Tanaka T . J Hum Genet 2002; 47: 605–610.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. de Araujo IE, Oliveira-Maia AJ, Sotnikova TD, Gainetdinov RR, Caron MG, Nicolelis MA et al. Neuron 2008; 57: 930–941.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Human Health Sciences, University of Nagasaki, Siebold, Nagayo, Nagasaki, Japan

    K Kishida, M Aoyama, M Masaki & Y Shidoji

Authors
  1. K Kishida
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M Aoyama
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M Masaki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Y Shidoji
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to K Kishida.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kishida, K., Aoyama, M., Masaki, M. et al. The Ala54Thr polymorphism in the fatty acid-binding protein 2 gene leads to higher food intake in Japanese women. Mol Psychiatry 14, 466–467 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/mp.2008.140

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/mp.2008.140

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links