APOLIPOPROTEIN-D POLYMORPHISM - A GENETIC-MARKER FOR OBESITY AND HYPERINSULINEMIA

Obesity frequently clusters with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, noninsu lin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and ischemic heart disease with hyper insulinemia as syndrome X. Although central obesity has been recognize d to have a strong genetic component, few candidate genes have been st udied in this disorder. After a recently described association between the apolipoprotein-D (Apo-D) gene polymorphism and noninsulin-depende nt diabetes mellitus by our group, we have now looked at a TaqI polymo rphism of the Apo-D gene in two other components of syndrome X, namely obesity and hyperinsulinemia. Apo-D genotype differences were found b etween obese subjects (n = 57) and slim controls (n = 57; P = 0.006). Furthermore, in the obese group an association was found between the A po-D genotype and fasting insulin (P < 0.001). Preliminary evidence, t herefore, suggests that the TaqI Apo-D polymorphism can be used as a g enetic marker for obesity and several components of syndrome X.