C358A missense polymorphism of the endocannabinoid degrading enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and insulin resistance in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2

Abstract 

Background

The polymorphism 385 C/A of FAAH has been associated with overweight and obesity. The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship of polymorphism (cDNA 385 C→A) of FAAH gene on obesity parameters in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2.

Design

A population of 70 patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 was analyzed. An anthropometric and biochemical nutritional assessment was performed. The statistical analysis was performed for the combined C358A and A358A as a group and wild type C358C as second group.

Results

Fifty-five patients (78.7%) had genotype C358C (wild type group) and 15 (21.3%) patients C358A (14 patients, 20.6%) or A358A (1 patient, 0.7%) (mutant group). BMI (38.9±6.4 vs. 39.2±5.7, p<0.05), weight (96.8±17.6kg vs. 102.5±16.8kg, p<0.05), fat mass (42.1±16.1kg. vs. 46.9±11.1kg, p<0.05), waist circumference (115.9±12.8cm vs. 121.3±12.8cm, p<0.05), insulin (22.5±18.8mUI/L vs. 33.9±17.1UI/L, p<0.05) and TNF-alpha (6.1±3.4pg/mL vs. 8.4±3.2pg/mL, p<0.05) were higher in mutant type group than wild type. Adiponectin levels (33.3±20.8ng/mL vs. 22.3±10.8ng/mL, p<0.05) were higher in wild type group than mutant type group.

Conclusion

There is an association of the mutant type group A358C and A358A of FAAH with a worse cardiovascular profile (weight, body mass index, waist circumference, insulin,TNF-alpha and adiponectin levels) than wild type group.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, FAAH, Insulin resistance, Polymorphism