Association of apolipoprotein E phenotype with hypertension in Japanese-Americans: Data from the Hawaii-Los Angeles-Hiroshima Study

We evaluated the association between the phenotypes or alleles; of apolipop rotein E and hypertension in Japanese-Americans living in Hawaii or Los Ang eles. The study consisted of 932 nondiabetic participants aged 40-79 years. Of these participants, 315 were hypertensive, while the remainder were nor motensive. The prevalence of hypertension was higher in subjects with the e psilon2 allele than in those without. Using a multivariable prediction mode l that included age, serum glucose, insulin, lipids, and body mass index, w e found the epsilon2 allele to be associated with hypertension in men (odds ratio (OR), 1.53; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.05-2.24) and for both se xes combined (OR, 1.35; 95% Cl, 1.05-1.73). In a follow-up study, 37 of the 352 (11%) normotensive subjects had developed hypertension 4 years after t he baseline examination. The frequencies of the apolipoprotein E phenotype E3/2 and the epsilon2 allele were higher in the subjects who became hyperte nsive than in those who remained normotensive. The E3/2 phenotype was assoc iated with incidence of hypertension after adjustment for age, sex, baselin e body mass index, and systolic blood pressure (OR, 1.75; 95% Cl, 1.01-2.90 ). When serum lipids, glucose, and insulin were included in this analysis, the E3/2 phenotype tended to be associated with the incidence of hypertensi on. In conclusion, the epsilon2 allele of apolipoprotein E was associated w ith hypertension in Japanese-Americans. This association may be mediated vi a high levels of serum triglycerides that in turn are mediated in part by t he epsilon2 allele. Nonlipid mechanisms may also be responsible for the eff ect of the epsilon2 allele on hypertension.