Genetic determination of plasma lipids and insulin in the Czech population

Objectives: To evaluate the association between plasma lipids and insulin a nd variation in the genes for apolipoproteins (APO) E (CfoI), B (insertion/ deletion). C1 (HpaI), and C3 (C-382T, C3238G) in a population-based Czech S lavonic study. Design and methods: In 131 men and 154 women, polymorphisms were investigat ed using PCR. In the same subjects plasma lipid levels and insulin were mea sured. Results: In the women, carriers of the e4 allele had higher apoB (p = 0.03) and triglyceride (p = 0.03) compared to e3 homozygotes, whereas in the men , the effect of the e4 allele was seen on total cholesterol (p = 0.02). LDL cholesterol (p = 0.003) and apoB (p = 0.001). Compared with SP27 (insertio n) homozygotes of the APOB polymorphism, women SP24 (deletion) homozygotes had higher levels of total (p = 0.003) and LDL cholesterol (p = 0.007) and apoB (p = 0.05). No significant effect was seen in the men. Women homozygou s for the APOC3 -482T allele had higher insulin levels than -482C homozygot es (p = 0.03). Men homozygous for APOC3 -182T allele have the highest plasm a triglyceride level (p = 0.02). The APOC1 polymorphism exhibited no signif icant effect on any of the parameters studied. Conclusions: In this sample, variation at the APOE. APOB and APOC3 genes pl ay a role in determining plasma levels of insulin and lipids, and emphasize the importance of gender-associated effects in the genetic determinations. (C) 2001 The Canadian society of Clinical Chemists. All rights reserved.