Apolipoprotein E polymorphism in indigenous Australians: allelic frequencies and relationship with dyslipidaemia

Objectives: To determine the apolipoprotein E (apoE) allelic frequencies an d the effect of apoE genotype on lipid concentrations in indigenous Austral ian subjects. Design: Cross-sectional study. Subjects and setting: 155 indigenous Australians (92 women and 63 men) of m ean (+/- standard deviation) age 45 +/- 17 years (SD +/- 50) were recruited without regard to history of atherosclerotic disease, in collaboration wit h community-based health centres in five indigenous communities in south-ea st Queensland. For comparison, 113 subjects of European descent and similar age distribution from the Brisbane and Gold Coast regions were also studie d. Main outcome measures: ApoE allelic frequency; apoE genotype; sex; age; dia betes status; body mass index; history of atherosclerotic vascular disease; and concentrations of total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. Results: The frequency of the apoE4 allele was found to be significantly hi gher in the indigenous subjects than in the subjects of European descent (P < 0.001). Among indigenous subjects, those with the apoE4, allele tended t o have higher triglyceride concentrations and had significantly lower HDL-c holesterol concentrations than those with the apoE3/3 and 3/2 genotypes. Conclusions: ApoE allelic frequency is likely to be one of the cluster of f actors contributing to the high cardiovascular mortality of indigenous Aust ralians.