title: Lipid profile in Portuguese obese children and adolescents: interaction of apolipoprotein E polymorphism with adiponectin levels.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal. henriqueferrao@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Henrique
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.forename: Letícia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lourenço
authors.forename: Radka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weinfurterová
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rego
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: António
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quintanilha
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santos-Silva
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Belo
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D008055:Lipids