title: The relationship between serotonin transporter gene promoter polymorphism and serum lipid levels at young age in a longitudinal population-representative study.
abstract: The serotonin transporter gene promoter region polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) has been linked to psychiatric disorders, mostly anxiety and affective disorders. In elderly populations 5-HTTLPR polymorphism has also been reported to be associated with serum lipid levels. We have examined the interaction of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and the markers of lipid metabolism at young age in a longitudinal, population-representative cohort study. The sample of the Estonian Children Personality Behaviour and Health Study (initially cohorts of 9 and 15 year old children, complete lipid and genotype data for n=1176) was examined throughout 10 years. Subjects were genotyped and the levels of low-density lipoproteins, high-density lipoproteins, triglycerides, and total cholesterol were measured. Children and adolescents carrying the s allele of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism had lower levels of low-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol. At the age of 25, the s allele carriers had higher levels of high-density lipoproteins. These associations were independent of gender. Thus the 5-HTTLPR can be associated with the serum lipid levels and in particular low-density lipoproteins already in a young age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Estonian Centre of Behavioural and Health Sciences, University of Tartu, Estonia. katrin.tomson@ut.ee
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tomson
authors.forename: Liis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Merenäkk
authors.forename: Helle-Mai
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Loit
authors.forename: Jarek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mäestu
authors.forename: Jaanus
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D002648:Child; D004957:Estonia; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000235:genetics*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins