Effect of apolipoprotein E phenotype on diet-induced lowering of plasma low density lipoprotein cholesterol.
The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) has recommended that dietary total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol intake be reduced to < or = 30% of calories, < 10% of calories, and < 300 mg/day, respectively (Step 1 diet) in the general population to reduce plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and heart disease risk. We examined the LDL cholesterol-lowering response to such a diet (26% fat, 8% saturated fat, and 201 mg/day of cholesterol) as compared to an average American diet (39% fat, 15% saturated fat, and 435 mg/day of cholesterol) in 128 subjects using diet periods of 4-24 weeks for each diet phase. The mean LDL cholesterol reduction was 15% in males (n = 83) and 8% in post-menopausal females (n = 45). The effect of apolipoprotein (apo) E phenotype on responsiveness was examined. LDL cholesterol lowering in males was 14% for 60 apoE3/3 subjects, 23% for 10 apoE3/4 subjects, and 16% for 13 apoE3/2 subjects. Male apoE3/4 subjects had a significantly greater LDL cholesterol reduction (P = 0.006) and a greater decrease in the LDL/HDL ratio (P = 0.047) than apoE3/3 subjects. In females, 7% lowering in LDL cholesterol was observed in 34 apoE3/3 subjects and 11% lowering was observed in 7 apoE3/4 subjects (P = 0.12). A meta-analysis of data from published studies supports this conclusion. These data indicate that apoE phenotype modulates the LDL cholesterol-lowering response to a diet meeting NCEP Step 1 criteria, and that male subjects carrying the apoE4 allele are more responsive than other subjects.
Lopez-Miranda
J
J
Lipid Metabolism Laboratory, USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111.
Ordovas
J M
JM
Mata
P
P
Lichtenstein
A H
AH
Clevidence
B
B
Judd
J T
JT
Schaefer
E J
EJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000097:blood*; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D017698:Postmenopause
D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004041:Dietary Fats