Study of common variants of the apolipoprotein E and lipoprotein lipase genes in patients with coronary heart disease and variable body mass index.

OBJECTIVE In the present study, we evaluated the influence of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and apolipoprotein (apo) E polymorphisms on lipid concentrations of 178 Greek men of similar age with coronary heart disease (CHD), but varying body mass index (BMI). DESIGN Patients were divided according to their BMI (in kg/m²) into three groups: lean (BMI = 20-24.9), overweight (BMI = 25-29.9), and obese (BMI ≥ 30). Polymorphisms of LPL (HindIII, S447X) and apo E (ε2, ε3, ε4), and lipid parameters were studied. RESULTS There was a negative correlation between BMI and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentration (r = -0.272, p < 0.001), as has already been described. Lean homozygotes for the HindIII(+) allele had higher HDL-C levels compared to lean homozygotes for the HindIII(-) allele (p = 0.012). No correlation was found between S447X or apo E polymorphisms and BMI or plasma lipids in any group. Overweight men with the ε3/ε3 and SS genotypes had higher triglycerides concentration compared with overweight men with ε3/ε3 and SX (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS The HindIII polymorphism alone may influence HDL-C concentration in lean men, in contrast to S447X alone, which has no influence on any lipid parameters. However, the S447X and apo E polymorphisms may have a synergetic effect and alter plasma triglyceride concentration in overweight men.