Influence of apolipoprotein e polymorphism on cardiovascular risk factors in obese children.
OBJECTIVE
The main objective of the study was to determine whether risk factors associated with obesity are influenced by genetic variation of apolipoprotein E (ApoE).


METHODS
81 obese children (mean age 9.4 +/- 2.8 years) and an age-matched control group were included. Body composition, lipid profile, and glucose and insulin levels were evaluated according to international recommendations, and the blood pressure was measured by an oscillometric method.


RESULTS
The calculated frequencies of the ApoE alleles *2, *3, and *4 (0.04, 0.88 and 0.08) in obese children were similar to those of eutrophic age-matched controls (0.07, 0.82, and 0.11) and fitted the range of variation generally observed in southern European populations. Age, anthropometric parameters, body fat mass, and blood pressure were similar in E2/3, E3/3 and E4/3 genotypes. Total/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratios were higher in the E4/3 group as compared with E3/3 (p < 0.01) and E2/3 (p < 0.05) groups. No differences concerning clusters of risk factors were observed among the three genotypes. No associations were found between ApoE polymorphism and glucose levels (fasting and at 2 h) and between fasting insulin levels and HOMA(IR) results. Higher levels of fasting and 2-hour insulin and higher HOMA(IR) values were significantly associated with a higher fat mass.


CONCLUSIONS
ApoE polymorphism seems to influence some lipid profile abnormalities associated with obesity in childhood. However, clustering of risk factors and insulin resistance seem not to be dependent on ApoE polymorphism.
Guerra
António
A
Department of Pediatrics, Hospital S. João, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal. ajmonicaguerra@mail.telepac.pt
Rego
Carla
C
Castro
Elizabete M B
EM
Seixas
Susana
S
Rocha
Jorge
J
D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides