title: Effects of apolipoprotein E genotype on dietary-induced changes in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in obese postmenopausal women.
abstract: Lipid responses to a dietary intervention are highly variable between individuals. Part of this variation may be accounted for by individual differences in lipid-regulating genes that interact with diet to induce changes in lipoprotein metabolism. This study determined whether apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype affects lipid responses to a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet in obese, postmenopausal women. Body weight and lipoprotein lipid responses to a 10-week, dietary intervention (American Heart Association [AHA] Step I) were compared in 61 women with the APOE 2/3 and APOE 3/3 genotype (APOE4-) and 18 women with the APOE 3/4 genotype (APOE4+) of a similar age, body composition, and maximal aerobic capacity. Body weight decreased by 2% in both groups, but changes in body weight correlated only with changes in low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) (r =.27, P <.05). The dietary intervention decreased total cholesterol and LDL-C to a similar degree in both genotype groups. However, APOE4- women decreased high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) by 17% +/- 11% and increased triglycerides by 20% +/- 41% in response to the diet, while APOE4+ women had a smaller decrease in HDL-C (-8% +/- 12%) and no change in plasma triglyceride. These group differences were significant for HDL-C (P <.01) and approached significance for triglycerides (P =.08). Moreover, APOE4- women decreased HDL(2)-C by 32% +/- 45%, while APOE4+ women increased HDL(2)-C by 12% +/- 62% (P <.01 between groups). It may be prudent to genotype older women before initiating low-fat diet therapy, as those with the APOE4 allele benefit the most, while the lipid profile could worsen in women without the APOE4 allele.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Gerontology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, and the Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Baltimore VA Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Barbara J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Nicklas
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Ferrell
authors.forename: Linda B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Bunyard
authors.forename: Dora M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Berman
authors.forename: Karen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Dennis
authors.forename: Andrew P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Goldberg
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D001823:Body Composition; D001835:Body Weight; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004041:Dietary Fats; D002784:Cholesterol