Association between FADS1 rs174547 and levels of long-chain PUFA: a meta-analysis

In the present study, we analysed the effects of SNP rs174547 (T/C) in the fatty acid desaturase 1 (FADS1) gene on long-chain PUFA levels. Four databases were searched to retrieve related literature with keywords such as fatty acid (FA), SNP, FADS1 and rs174547. A meta-analysis of the data was performed using Stata12.0 software, including summary statistics, test for heterogeneity, evaluation of publication bias, subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis. The associations between rs174547 in FADS1 and seven types of FA, and Delta-5 (D5D) and Delta-6 fatty acid desaturase (D6D) activity were assessed based on the pooled results from eleven papers. A total of 3713 individuals (1529 TT and 2184 TC + CC) were included. The results demonstrated that minor C allele carriers of rs174547 had higher linoleic acid (LA; P < 0 center dot 001) and alpha-linolenic acid (P = 0 center dot 020) levels, lower gamma-linolenic acid (GLA; P = 0 center dot 001) and arachidonic acid (P = 0 center dot 024) levels, and lower D5D (P = 0 center dot 005) and D6D (P = 0 center dot 004) activities than the TT genotype group. Stratification analysis showed that minor C allele carriers of rs174547 had higher LA and lower GLA levels and lower D6D activities in plasma (LA, P < 0 center dot 001; GLA, P < 0 center dot 001; D6D activity, P < 0 center dot 001) samples and in Asian populations (LA, P < 0 center dot 001; GLA, P = 0 center dot 001; D6D activity, P = 0 center dot 001) than the TT genotype group. In conclusion, minor C allele carriers of the SNP rs174547 were associated with decreased activity of D5D and D6D.

Automated summary

The study revealed that carriers of the minor C allele of SNP rs174547 were associated with decreased activity of D5D and D6D.