Lipid profile in Portuguese obese children and adolescents: interaction of apolipoprotein E polymorphism with adiponectin levels.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate how the lipid profile associates with apolipoprotein (apo) E gene polymorphism, plasma adiponectin level, and body mass index (BMI) z score in Portuguese youth.


METHODS
Transversal cohort study.


METHODS
Hospital de São João and Hospital de Crianças Maria Pia, Porto, Portugal, between May 2006 and March 2007.


METHODS
One hundred thirty-eight obese children and adolescents (62 boys; mean age, 10.8 years [range, 4-16 years]). Participants were grouped according to (1) apo E polymorphism: presence of the apo E alleles 2 or 4 in E2 (n = 11) and E4 (n = 31) carriers, respectively, or as E3/E3 (n = 94) (carriers of E2/E4 [n = 2] were excluded from apo E analysis because they carry both alleles) and (2) BMI z score: group 1, BMI z score less than 2 (n = 31); group 2, BMI z score of 2 or more and less than 2.5 (n = 65); and group 3, BMI z score of 2.5 or more (n = 42).


METHODS
Lipid variable comparisons between apo E polymorphism and BMI z score groups and influence of BMI z score and adiponectin level, adjusted for apo E polymorphism, on total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apo A-I to apo B ratios.


RESULTS
E4 carriers presented with a worse lipid profile when compared with E2 and E3/E3 carriers. There was also a clear risk of worsening for the group with the highest BMI z score. Apolipoprotein E polymorphism, BMI z score, and adiponectin level were significantly associated with total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (standardized beta coefficient = 0.283, 0.354, and -0.292, respectively; P < .001 for all) and apo A-I to apo B (standardized beta coefficient = -0.372, -0.284, and 0.327, respectively; P < .001 for all) ratios.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest a more atherogenic lipid profile for some apo E genotypes and for increasing BMI z score, whereas adiponectin level seems to play a protective role.
Nascimento
Henrique
H
Departamento de Bioquímica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal. henriqueferrao@hotmail.com
Silva
Letícia
L
Lourenço
Pedro
P
Weinfurterová
Radka
R
Castro
Elisabeth
E
Rego
Carla
C
Ferreira
Helena
H
Guerra
António
A
Quintanilha
Alexandre
A
Santos-Silva
Alice
A
Belo
Luís
L
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011174:Portugal; D055105:Waist Circumference; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio
D052242:Adiponectin; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D008055:Lipids