Gender differences in a type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic population with respect to apolipoprotein E phenotype frequencies.
Apolipoprotein E polymorphism was examined in an Italian population of Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients. There were significant differences (p < 0.05) in allele frequencies between male and female patients due to an under-representation of the E4 allele in the female group. No differences in allele frequencies were noted when non-diabetic male and female control subjects were compared. Both control groups exhibited similar allele distributions to that of male diabetic patients, but were significantly different (p < 0.05) from female diabetic patients. A closer examination of the female diabetic population revealed that under-representation of the E4 allele was principally confined to patients aged 60 years or older. This subgroup showed a significantly different (p < 0.05) allele frequency profile from control subjects (both men and women) and diabetic men, whereas this was not observed in the younger diabetic women (< or = 59 years). The results are consistent with the suggestion that the E4 allele may be a particular risk factor for female diabetic patients.
Boemi
M
M
Division of Diabetology, INRCA, Ancona, Italy.
James
R W
RW
Romagnoli
F
F
Gerber
P
P
Pometta
D
D
Fumelli
P
P
D000368:Aged; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000032:analysis; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D002784:Cholesterol; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D014280:Triglycerides