Association of the ala54-thr polymorphism in the intestinal fatty acid-binding protein with 2-h postchallenge insulin levels in the Framingham Offspring Study

OBJECTIVE - To investigate the association of variants of the intestinal fa tty acid-binding protein gene (FABP2) with Easting and postchallenge glucos e and insulin levers, HbA(1c), and prevalence of type 2 diabetes in a separ ate sample of men and women. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - Subjects were participants in the Framingham Offspring Study, a long-term community-based prospective observational stud y of risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The study sample consisted of 762 men and 922 women. RESULTS - In women, carriers of the thr54 allele had significantly higher 2 -h postchallenge insulin levels than noncarriers (104.4 +/- 73.0 vs. 93.4 /- 61.5 muU/ml; P = 0.0139). This relationship remained significant after a djustment for familial relationship, age, BMI, triglycerides, APOE genotype , smoking, alcohol intake, the use of P-blockers, menopausal status, and es trogen therapy. No such significant association was observed in men. In bot h men and women, there were no statistical associations between the FABP2 p olymorphism and BMI, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, 2-h postchallenge gl ucose levels, HbA(1c), and prevalence of type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS - These results suggest that the FABP2 thr54 allele may have a minor contribution to the insulin resistance syndrome in a white general po pulation.