Association Between Obesity, Dyslipidemia and Apoliporprotein E Polymorphism

Introduction: Lithuania is characterized by one of the highest mortality from coronary heart disease (CHD) in Europe. Obesity and dyslipidemias are associated with risk of CHD. Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) plays a fundsmental role in the lipid metabolism. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship of ApoE gene polymorphism with, total serum cholesterol (CH), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-CH), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-CH) levels and obesity in the Lithuanian population. Methods: Cross-sectional health survey was carried out in representative random samples of Lithuanian urban and rural population (936 men and 1115 women) aged 25-70. ApoE genotyping for two SNP loci: -rs 429358 (112T/C) and rs 7412 (158C/T) were performed using the allele-specific real-time PCR method. Serum lipids concentrations were measured using enzymatic methods. The obesity was defined when body mass index (BMI) ≥30kg/m². ANOVA and multiple logistical regression analysis were used for statistical evaluation of the data. Results: The prevalence of obesity was 27,8 %in men and 32,0% in women. The frequency of ApoE genotype 3/3 was 63%, 2/2 or 3/2 - 17%, and 4/3 or 4/4 - 17.2%. The observed relative frequencies for ε2, ε3 and ε4 alleles were 10.2%, 79.3%, and 10.5%, respectively. The levels of total serum CH, LDL-CH, and triglyceride were higher and the level of HDL-CH - lower in obese men and women than in nonebese. ApoE ε2 carriers (obese and none-obese) demonstrated the lowest level of serum total-CH (p<0.017) in men, and the lowest level of LDL-CH (p<0.02) in men and women. The odds of high LDL-CH level adjusted for age and other CHD risk factors were significant higher for ApoE ε2 carriers than for ApoE εcarriers. Conclusions: ApoE allele ε2 has prospective effect against hypercholesterolaemia in both obese and none-obese study subjects from a random sample of Lithuanian population.