ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN DIET AND THE HYPERAPOBETALIPOPROTEINEMIA PHENOTYPE EXPRESSION IN CHILDREN AND YOUNG-ADULTS - THE CARDIOVASCULAR RISK IN YOUNG FINNS STUDY

The effect of diet on blood lipids has been under intensive study duri ng recent decades. However, diet in the context of the hyperapobetalip oproteinemia (hyperapoB) phenotype has received less attention. The hy perapoB phenotype is commonly encountered in patients with premature c oronary heart disease. It is defined as a combination of an increased concentration of apolipoprotein B (ape B), a normal concentration of L DL cholesterol (LDL-C), and as a result, a low LDL-C/apo B ratio. We s tudied the associations between diet and blood lipids in a cohort of 5 34 children and young adults 9 to 24 years old. The ratio of polyunsat urated to saturated fats (P/S ratio) correlated (r=-0.19, P<.001) with the LDL-C/apo B ratio. This association was also found when the model was adjusted with triglycerides (r=-0.24, P<.001). A change in the P/ S ratio from 0.10 to 0.60 corresponded to a decrease of 0.12 in the LD L-C/apo B ratio, and in the highest apo B decile, the P/S value was hi gher in hyperapoB individuals (0.33) than in others (0.28, P=.019). Ou r results imply that the fatty acid composition of the diet may be one of the environmental factors that influence the hyperapoB phenotype e xpression.