Lipid profiles reflecting high and low risk for coronary heart disease: contribution of apolipoprotein E polymorphism and lifestyle.

To elucidate the role of modifiable factors and the apolipoprotein E polymorphism in explaining lipid profiles reflecting low, average and high risk for coronary heart disease, we selected subjects from a large population-based study. Subjects with low total cholesterol (TC) (<15th percentile) and high HDL-cholesterol levels (>85th percentile) were randomly selected (n=99) and represent subjects with a low risk lipid profile. Additionally, 95 subjects with total and HDL-cholesterol levels in the 15% around the population-median (median risk lipid profile) and 100 subjects with high TC (>85th percentile) and low HDL-cholesterol levels (<15th percentile) (high risk lipid profile) were selected. Compared with E3/3 subjects, the likelihood for a low risk lipid profile was considerably higher (odds ratio 14.3; 2.6–79) in female, but not in male E2-carriers (1.5; 0.3–6.7). Smoking and alcohol consumption were independently associated with a low risk lipid profile in both genders, physical inactivity only in women. The odds ratio for a high risk lipid profile was elevated in male E4-carriers (4.9; 1.1–23) only. In addition to the E4 isoform, smoking and physical inactivity, overweight was the main determinant for a high risk lipid profile (odds ratio 16.8; 3.4–82). Male overweight E4-carriers had a 50 times higher likelihood of a high risk lipid profile than E3/3 men of normal weight. In women, only overweight was independently associated with a high risk lipid profile. Our results suggest that both modifiable factors and the apolipoprotein E polymorphism contribute to a lipid profile, reflecting low, average and high risk for coronary heart disease, but effects may be gender-specific.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Boer, J.M.A., Feskens, E.J.M., Schouten, E.G., Havekes, L.M., Seidell, J.C., Kromhout, D.
Format: Article/Letter to editor biblioteca
Language:English
Subjects:Apolipoprotein E polymorphism, HDL-cholesterol, Lipid profile, Modifiable risk factors, Total cholesterol,
Online Access:https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/lipid-profiles-reflecting-high-and-low-risk-for-coronary-heart-di
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