Apolipoprotein E polymorphism in middle-aged Belgian men: phenotype distribution and relation to serum lipids and lipoproteins

Atherosclerosis. 1996 Feb;120(1-2):67-73. doi: 10.1016/0021-9150(95)05681-5.

Abstract

Apo E phenotype was determined in 760 Belgian men, aged 35 to 59 years. Serum lipids and lipoproteins were related to the apo E polymorphism in 734 participants. By comparison with the most frequent apo E3/3 phenotype, the presence of the epsilon2 allele was associated with a lower serum total and non-HDL cholesterol, and with a lower apo B and a higher HDL cholesterol, independently of age, lifestyle factors and apo E concentration. In contrast, the presence of the epsilon4 allele was associated with a higher serum total and non-HDL cholesterol, and with a lower HDL cholesterol and a lower apo AI. The apo E phenotype explained 17.4% of the variance in apo E concentration; the proportion of the variance in total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, apo AI and apo B levels explained by the apo E polymorphism was low but statistically significant. Among the lifestyle factors, waist to hip ratio was the only variable significantly associated with apo E concentration. The data suggest that besides the well-documented increasing effect on non-HDL cholesterol, the epsilon4 allele could further predispose to coronary heart disease through a decreasing effect on HDL while the epsilon2 allele could exert a protective influence through both a decreasing effect on non-HDL cholesterol and an increasing effect on HDL cholesterol.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alcohol Drinking / epidemiology
  • Alleles
  • Apolipoproteins E / genetics*
  • Belgium / epidemiology
  • Body Constitution
  • Body Mass Index
  • Coronary Disease / epidemiology
  • Disease Susceptibility / epidemiology
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Lipids / blood*
  • Lipoproteins / blood*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Phenotype
  • Polymorphism, Genetic*
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Apolipoproteins E
  • Lipids
  • Lipoproteins