Objective: One SNP in exon 9 (r5883) has been involved with high risk of cardiovascular disease in hypertensive subjects. The goal of the present study was to test the role of this genetic variant on lipid levels and Metabolic Syndrome (MS) in menopausal obese females.
Patients and methods: The study enrolled a sample of 112 menopausal obese females. Measurements of adiposity parameters, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, insulin concentration, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), lipid profile, C reactive protein and prevalence of MS were recorded. Genotype of CETP gene polymorphism (rs5883) was studied.
Results: The distribution of the rs5883 polymorphism in this menopausal obese population was 83.9% (n=94) (CC), 15.2% (n=17) (CT) and 0.9% (n=1) (TT). Adiposity parameters, blood pressure, fasting glucose levels, insulin levels, HOMA-IR, C reactive protein, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides were similar in both genotype groups (CC vs. CT+TT). Moreover, HDL cholesterol (8.5+1.2 mg/dl; p=0.01) and ratio total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol (0.5±0.2; p=0.04) were higher in T allele carriers (dominant model). MS percentage was similar in both genotypes (37.6% vs. 27.2%; p=0.43). Logistic regression analysis showed a decreased risk of low-HDL cholesterol in T allele carriers (OR=0.18, 95% CI=0.02-0.77, p=0.03) after adjusting by dietary fatty acid intakes, body mass index and age.
Conclusions: The results reported here support that CETP variant rs5883 is related with HDL-cholesterol levels and ratio total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol.