The apolipoprotein E4 allele is not associated with an abnormal lipid profile in a Native American population following its traditional lifestyle

The apolipoprotein E4 allele is associated in industrialized countries with an elevated LDL cholesterol concentration and an increased cardiovascular risk. Our purpose in this study was to assess the influence of the genetic variation at the APOE gene locus on the lipid profile of a Native American rural population. We examined plasma lipid levels and the common apo E alle les in 142 healthy randomly selected adults living in their native communit ies in western Mexico. Their age was 38 +/- 17 years and the BMI 25.7 +/- 4 .5 kg/m(2). Plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL C and HDL C were 165 +/- 29.6, 126 +/- 83, 98 +/- 26 and 42 +/- 12.7 mg/dl respectively. Ninety-one per cent of the subjects had Lp(a) concentrations below 20 mg/dl and 30% h ad levels lower than 2 mg/dl. The most common APOE genotype was E3/3 (63%), followed by E3/4 (39.1%). The prevalence of the E2 allele was very low (2. 3%). No difference was observed in LDL C concentrations between the E3/E3 a nd E3/E4 subjects, however carriers of the E2/3 genotype had lower LDL C le vels. Similar results were obtained for cholesterol and apo B levels. In su mmary, the increased LDL C levels associated with the E4 allele in previous studies were not observed in a population with non-westernized habits. Env ironmental factors, such as diet and lifestyle, could outweigh the hypercho lesterolemic predisposition resulting from the presence of the apo E4 allel e. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.