Can the FUT 2 Gene Variant Have an Effect on the Body Weight of Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery?-Preliminary, Exploratory Study

The gene (Se gene) encoding the enzyme α-1,2-L-fucosyltransferase 2 seems to have a significant effect on the number and type of bacteria colonizing the intestines. In a group of 19 patients after bariatric surgery, the polymorphism (rs601338) of gene was analyzed in combination with body mass reduction, intestinal microbiome (16S RNA sequencing), and short chain fatty acids (SCFA) measurements in stools. Among the secretors (Se/Se polymorphism of the gene rs601338, carriers of GG variant), correlations between waist-hip ratio (WHR) and propionate content and an increase in , , , and were observed. On the other hand-in non-secretors (carriers of GA and AA variants)-higher abundance of , , , was recorded. The increased concentrations of propionate observed among the GG variants of may be used as an additional source of energy for the patient and may have a higher risk of increasing the WHR than carriers of the other variants (GA and AA).