Apolipoprotein E affects serial changes in total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in adolescent girls: Project HeartBeat!

Apolipoprotein E (apo F) polymorphism is a genetic determinant of lipid and lipoprotein levels and the risk for coronary heart disease. The extent to which serial patterns of change in total cholesterol and low-density lipopr otein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations varied by apo E genotype was there fore investigated in 247 Caucasian girls aged 8 to 14 at baseline who were participating in Project HeartBeat!, a mixed longitudinal study of cardiova scular disease (CVD) risk factor development in children. Plasma lipid conc entrations were determined for each participant three times per year (every 4 months) for up to 4 years from October 1991 through August 1995. Mean to tal cholesterol values for individuals with epsilon 2/3, epsilon 3/3, and e psilon 3/4 genotypes were 141.7, 161.6, and 165.9 mg/dL, respectively (P < .001). Corresponding LDL-C values for individuals with epsilon 2/3, epsilon 3/3, and epsilon 3/4 genotypes were 74.6, 94.8, and 98.7 mg/dL, respective ly (P < .001). The results of longitudinal modeling indicated that age traj ectories for total cholesterol and LDL-C varied significantly by apo E geno type. Individuals with epsilon 3/3 and epsilon 3/4 genotypes exhibited simi lar patterns of change in total cholesterol and LDL-C from ages 8 to 18, wh ile individuals with the epsilon 2/3 genotype demonstrated a significantly different pattern of change (age(2) x genotype interaction, P < .05). For e xample, individuals with the epsilon 2/3 genotype showed a slight increase in total cholesterol from approximately 141 to 146 mg/dL from ages 8 to 10; total cholesterol then decreased monotonically from ages 10 to 18 from 146 to 115 mg/dL. The apo E effect on total cholesterol and LDL-C and their ch ange during adolescence is strong and may be modified by factors affecting growth, maturation, end reproductive function. Copyright (C) 1999 by W.B. S aunders Company.