title: apoE4 allele and the natural history of cardiovascular risk factors.
abstract: The aims of the present study were to compare the longitudinal changes in traditional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors (blood pressure, BMI, total and HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood glucose) in men with and without the apolipoprotein (apo)E4 allele. Three hundred six men from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, ranging in age from 20 to 92 yr, were studied. Repeated measurements of CV risk factors were performed over a median follow-up time of 7 yr (maximum 14.3 yr) for men. Longitudinal changes in these CV risk factors were analyzed by linear mixed-effects models. The prevalence of the apoE4 allele was 25.5%. apoE4 was independently associated with accelerated changes over time in fasting plasma glucose (+9.5% vs. no change in those without apoE4 in the 6th age-decade over 10 yr). No significant effect of apoE4 on longitudinal changes in total or HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, or blood pressures was observed. In conclusion, apoE4 influences fasting plasma glucose and its changes over time. This could explain, in part, the increased CV risk associated with the apoE4 genotype observed in men.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cardiovascular Science, NIA-NIH, 5600 Nathan Shock Dr., Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. Scuterian@mail.nih.gov
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scuteri
authors.forename: Samer S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Najjar
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: Reubin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andres
authors.forename: Christopher H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Morrell
authors.forename: Alan B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Zonderman
authors.forename: Edward G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Lakatta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000235:genetics*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000235:genetics; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008957:Models, Genetic; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides