FADS1

SNP Table

variant	genotype	frequency	risk allele
rs556628376
rs761577319
rs174562
rs174566
rs174567
rs174568
rs968567
rs99780
rs1186937520
rs5792235
rs7395229
rs774882452
rs12226877
rs192793035
rs1013439914
rs1535
rs174572
rs174573
rs174574
rs174575

22552 associated SNPs in total

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Summary Blog Articles Frequently Asked Questions

Summary

The FADS1 gene encodes for fatty acid desaturase 1 [R].

FADS1 is an enzyme that helps make some types of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). This enzyme determines the levels of different fatty acids in the liver [R, R].

Variants in FADS1 have been linked to [R, R, R]:

Muscle mass
Muscle strength
Difficulty metabolizing fats
Coronary artery disease
Ischemic stroke
Hair loss

Research also suggests that the minor allele in several FADS1 variants may be associated with lower levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

Protein names

fatty acid desaturase 1 [Source:HGNC Symbol;Acc:HGNC:3574]

Found in These Blog Articles

Can This Fat Metabolism Gene Influence Nutrition and Cholesterol? (FADS1)

FADS1 plays a key role in fat metabolism, but certain genetic variants may lead to nutritional imbalances. Learn more here.

Fatty Acid Metabolism in Follicle Activity & Hair Growth (FADS1)

The FADS1 gene encodes an enzyme that produces EPA and arachidonic acid. How does it affect hair growth?

More Information

FADS1 and Male-Pattern Baldness

The FADS1 gene encodes fatty acid desaturase 1, a protein that converts omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids into EPA and arachidonic acid, respectively [R].

EPA and arachidonic acid are both important ingredients for making healthy hair. Arachidonic acid stimulates the production of growth factors which, in turn, enhance follicle activity and hair growth. EPA is directly incorporated into the outer layers of the skin structure; many studies have found that direct or dietary exposure to EPA improves the health of skin cells [R, R].

One variant in the FADS1 gene has been associated with male-pattern baldness. The detrimental allele of this variant likely reduces the function of the FADS1 enzyme, leading to decreased production of EPA and arachidonic acid from their fatty acid precursors [R, R].

As a result, people with this allele may have reduced follicle activity (due to low arachidonic acid) and poor-quality hair (due to low EPA) [R, R].

The variant associated with male-pattern baldness, rs1535, may also affect the expression of FADS2. As its name suggests, FADS2 encodes an enzyme very closely related to FADS1 and with a similar function [R].

Decreased FADS2 enzyme function is associated with reduced production of EPA and DHA, which can lead to poor skin and hair quality, similar to FADS1 [R].

FADS1 is a gene that plays an integral role in the metabolism of certain types of fats. This is because FADS1 is responsible for encoding a protein called delta-5 desaturase (D5D) [R].

The D5D protein is an enzyme that is responsible for the conversion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) [R].

PUFAs play several key roles in the body, such as being a structural component of cells, acting as an energy source, and regulating cell signaling pathways [R].

Research suggests that certain variants in FADS1 may impair the body’s ability to metabolize fatty acids, potentially leading to negative effects on nutrition [R].

Learn more about fatty acids here.

FADS1 and Fat Metabolism

A number of studies suggest that specific variants in FADS1 may cause fat metabolism issues, including triglyceride and cholesterol levels [R, R].

This is likely because these variants can reduce the activity of the D5D enzyme, which plays a key role in the production of PUFAs, including omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids [R, R].

A reduction in D5D activity can lead to lower levels of important PUFAs, such as EPA and DHA [R].

This may also lead to an imbalance in cholesterol and triglyceride levels as fatty acids can influence the concentration of these two compounds [R].

According to research, several variants in FADS1 may lead to lower levels of PUFAs, including omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, as well as reduced D5D activity [R, R, R, R, R, R, R].

For example, the ‘T’ allele of rs174546 has been associated with higher triglyceride levels, but lower LDL (“bad” cholesterol) and total cholesterol. However, this association may vary depending on ethnicity, dietary intake of fats, and age [R, R, R, R, R, R, R].

A different study looked at the SNP rs174547 and found that the ‘C’ allele was associated with higher triglycerides and lower HDL (“good” cholesterol) in Japanese individuals, but in the Mongolian population was only associated with lower LDL. There was no link to triglycerides or HDL in this group [R, R, R].

Another study of rs174547 suggests that the ‘C’ allele is only associated with lower LDL in people who have a low intake of omega-3 fatty acids [R].

In addition, the ‘C’ allele of rs174550 may also be associated with low HDL and higher triglyceride levels, according to research in Chinese populations [R].

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Are Alleles for This SNP Different Elsewhere? Major vs. Reference Allele Is My Variant Good or Bad? SNP vs. Mutation

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