THE ROLE OF GENETICS IN DEFINING REFERENCE VALUES AND HEALTH-STATUS

Since its establishment, the Center for Preventive Medicine in Vandoeu vre-les-Nancy, France, performed specific studies on healthy humans, a nd its approach was very useful for defining reference values. Prevent ion should extend its interest to chronic diseases. The majority of im portant adult disorders are partially genetically determined. Genetic markers are also useful as exclusion or as partition criteria in the p roduction of reference values. Results are presented that were obtaine d for apolipoproteins E, B and AIV, frequencies of these polymorphisms in the Lorraine population, and relationships between these polymorph isms and lipid metabolism-related parameters. Health checkup centers, in particular those involved in family screening, are well suited for reassembling many data concerning environmental factors: tobacco consu mption, alimentation habits, or alcohol and drug consumption. Simultan eous determination of genetic markers could allow the determination of an individual's susceptibility or resistance to developing a disease and to prepare a preventive action.