title: ApoE polymorphism may determine low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level in association with obesity and metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal Korean women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated how serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level is related to various isoforms of apolipoprotein (ApoE) polymorphism in association with obesity and metabolic syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  We gathered total 332 sample of postmenopausal Korean women and analyzed ApoE isoforms, serum lipid level including LDL, blood pressure, fasting glucose, and anthropometry. The relationship between ApoE isoforms and serum lipid level, metabolic syndrome, and obesity was investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six ApoE isoforms were found, ApoE2 [E2/2 (n=1), E2/3 (n=54), E2/4 (n=14)], ApoE3 (E3/3, n=200), ApoE4 [E3/4 (n=55), and E4/4 (n=8)]. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome and obesity showed higher ApoE3 isoform than that of other isoforms. In additon, ApoE3 isoform was related to higher serum LDL and total cholesterol level than to ApoE2 isoform. The odds ratio of having the highest LDL cholesterol quartile in ApoE3 with obesity, compared to ApoE2 without obesity, was 3.46 [95% confidence interval (CI); 1.07-11.14, p=0.037], and odds ratio of ApoE3 with metabolic syndrome compared to ApoE2 without metabolic syndrome was 5.06 (95% CI; 1.14-22.29, p=0.037). Serum LDL cholesterol was positively associated with obesity or metabolic syndrome in ApoE3 isoform.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that obesity or metabolic syndrome risk should be effectively managed in ApoE3 isomform groups to reduce serum LDL in postmenopausal Korean women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Practice and Community Health, Ajou University School of Medicine, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon 443-721, Korea.
authors.forename: Duck-Joo
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kwang-Min
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Bom-Taeck
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyu-Nam
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Nam-Seok
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Joo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood*; D056910:Republic of Korea; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL