The lipoprotein lipase HindIII polymorphism: Association with total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol, but not with HDL and triglycerides in 342 females

Background: Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the hyd rolysis of core triglycerides in chylomicrons and VLDL. Methods: We investigated the association between the HindIII polymorphism o f the LPL gene and fasting glucose, lipid, and lipoprotein concentrations i n 683 Caucasians. We first stabilized the study subjects, using an 8-day di et and exercise intervention program before obtaining blood samples. The us e of this standardization period reduced the variance of all glucose and li pid concentrations. Results: In our study, the HindIII allele frequencies for females and males were 0.29 and 0.34 for H- and 0.71 and 0.66 for H+, respectively. We found in females, but not in males, a significant association between the HindII I genotype and total cholesterol (P = 0.007) and LDL-cholesterol (P = 0.018 ), with females homozygous for the rare H- allele having the lowest, hetero zygotes (H-if) having intermediate, and women homozygous for the common Hallele having the highest of each of these lipid traits. With regard to tri glycerides, HDL-cholesterol, and glucose, no significant effect of the Hind III genotype was noted in either gender. Conclusions: These results suggest that in a gender-specific manner, the ra re LPL HindIII H- allele has a cholesterol-lowering and, therefore, potenti ally cardio-protective effect compared with the common H+ allele. (C) 1999 American Association for Clinical Chemistry.