Polymorphisms in the CD36/FAT gene are associated with plasma vitamin E concentrations in humans

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition 2011-03, Vol.93 (3), p.644-651
• Main Authors: Lecompte, Sophie, Szabo de Edelenyi, Fabien, Goumidi, Louisa, Maiani, Giuseppe, Moschonis, George, Widhalm, Kurt, Molnár, Dénes, Kafatos, Anthony, Spinneker, Andre, Breidenassel, Christina, Dallongeville, Jean, Meirhaeghe, Aline, Borel, Patrick
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; alpha-Tocopherol; alpha-Tocopherol - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Blood; CD36 Antigens; CD36 Antigens - genetics; Cohort Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dietary supplements; Europe; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - blood; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; France; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Frequency; Genes; Genetic Association Studies; Humans; Life Sciences; Male; Middle Aged; Polymorphism; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Proteins; Tissues; Triglycerides; Triglycerides - blood; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Vitamin E; Vitamin E - blood; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0002-9165; 1938-3207
• DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.110.004176

Background: Blood vitamin E concentrations are modulated by dietary, metabolic, and genetic factors. CD36 (cluster of differentiation 36), a class B scavenger receptor, might be involved in tissue vitamin E uptake and thus would influence blood vitamin E concentrations. Objective: The goal of the study was to assess the association between CD36 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and plasma α-tocopherol concentrations in humans. Design: A subsample from the adult SU.VI.MAX (SUpplementation en VItamines et Minéraux AntioXydants) cohort (n = 621) and the adolescent cross-sectional HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) Study (n = 993) were genotyped for CD36 SNPs (4 and 10 SNPs, respectively). Fasting plasma α-tocopherol concentrations were assayed by using HPLC. Associations were determined by haplotype analyses and by general linear regression models. Results: In the SU.VI.MAX subsample, haplotype analyses showed that some haplotypes of SNPs rs1984112, rs1527479, rs7755, and rs1527483 tended to be associated with plasma α-tocopherol concentrations (P = 0.08 and P = 0.09 for haplotypes 1222 and 1122, respectively). We then investigated the whole known common genetic variability (10 SNPs) of CD36 in the HELENA Study. Three SNPs were associated with lower plasma α-tocopherol concentrations (rs1984112: −3.2%, P = 0.053; rs1761667: −2.9%, P = 0.046; rs1527479: −3.7%, P = 0.0061). After correction for multiple testing, the association between rs1527479 and α-tocopherol concentrations remained significant. This association was modulated by concentrations of fasting serum triglycerides (P for interaction = 0.006) and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (P for interaction = 0.005). Conclusion: Our results suggest that CD36 can modulate blood α-tocopherol concentrations and may therefore be involved in the intestinal absorption or tissue uptake of vitamin E.