Apolipoprotein E polymorphism and lipid levels differ by gender and familyhistory of diabetes: the Rancho Bernardo Study

Association between apolipoprotein E (apoE) gene polymorphism and lipid lev els was studied in 164 nondiabetic first-degree relatives of persons with d iabetes and 962 nondiabetic persons with no family history of diabetes. Sex -specific genotypic distribution of apoE polymorphism did not differ betwee n persons with and without a family history of diabetes. In first-degree re latives, lipid levels did not differ among persons with apoE2 (E2/2, E2/3), apoE3/3, and apoE4 (E4/4, E3/4) after adjusting for age, waist circumferen ce, smoking, and alcohol and estrogen use. In persons without a family hist ory of diabetes, both men (p < 0.0 1) and women (p < 0.001) with apoE2 show ed lower levels of total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol compared w ith persons with apoE3/3 and apoE4. In women with a family history of diabe tes, persons with apoE4 had larger waist circumference (p < 0.05). ApoE2 al lele is associated with more favorable levels of total and low density lipo protein cholesterol in men and women without a family history of diabetes. ApoE4 allele is associated with obesity independent of dyslipidemia in wome n but not men with a family history of diabetes. ApoE polymorphism is not a ssociated with lipids in men or women with a family history of diabetes.