Polyunsaturated fatty acids interact with the PPARA-L162V polymorphism to affect plasma triglyceride and apolipoprotein C-III concentrations in the Framingham Heart Study

J Nutr. 2005 Mar;135(3):397-403. doi: 10.1093/jn/135.3.397.

Abstract

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) is a nuclear transcription factor regulating multiple genes involved in lipid metabolism. It was shown that a common leucine to valine (L162V) substitution at the PPARalpha gene (PPARA) is functional and affects transactivation activity of PPARalpha ligands, such as PUFA, on a concentration-dependent basis. The current study examined this gene-nutrient interaction in relation to plasma lipid variables in a population-based study consisting of 1003 men and 1103 women participating in the Framingham cohort and consuming their habitual diets. We found significant gene-nutrient interactions between the L162V polymorphism and total PUFA intake, which modulated plasma triglycerides (TG; P < 0.05) and apolipoprotein C-III (apoC-III; P < 0.05) concentrations. The 162V allele was associated with greater TG and apoC-III concentrations only in subjects consuming a low-PUFA diet (below the population mean, 6% of energy). However, when PUFA intake was high, carriers of the 162V allele had lower apoC-III concentrations. This interaction was significant even when PUFA intake was considered as a continuous variable (P = 0.031 for TG and P < 0.001 for apoC-III), suggesting a strong dose-response effect. When PUFA intake was <4%, 162V allele carriers had approximately 28% higher plasma TG than did 162L homozygotes (P < 0.01). Conversely, when PUFA intake was >8%, plasma TG in 162V allele carriers was 4% lower than in 162L homozygotes. Similar results were obtained for (n-6) and (n-3) fatty acids. Our data show that the effect of the L162V polymorphism on plasma TG and apoC-III concentrations depends on the dietary PUFA, with a high intake triggering lower TG in carriers of the 162V allele.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Alcohol Drinking
  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Apolipoprotein C-III
  • Apolipoproteins C / blood*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Diabetes Mellitus / blood
  • Dietary Fats
  • Energy Intake
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / blood*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • PPAR alpha / genetics*
  • PPAR alpha / metabolism*
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Sex Characteristics
  • Smoking
  • Triglycerides / blood*

Substances

  • Apolipoprotein C-III
  • Apolipoproteins C
  • Dietary Fats
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
  • PPAR alpha
  • Triglycerides