title: APOE genotype modifies the association between plasma omega-3 fatty acids and plasma lipids in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The benefits of fish oil fatty acids eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acids (DHA) on plasma lipid profiles have been inconsistent but may partially depend on individual Apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotypes. We aimed to determine whether APOE genotype modifies the association of lipid profile characteristics with plasma EPA and DHA levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  APOE genotype was determined in this cross-sectional analysis of 2340 Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) participants. Relative plasma phospholipid EPA and DHA levels, plasma lipids, and lipoprotein subclass particle sizes and concentrations were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant gene-EPA interactions were found with HDL-C, and particle concentrations of large and total HDL (p(interaction) = 0.0002, 0.006, and 0.007, respectively). The above lipid targets were positively associated with EPA in the E2 groups, whereas negative trends were observed among the E4 participants. Gene-DHA interactions were noted for small LDL particle concentrations alone (p(interaction) = 0.01), where a positive trend was found among E4 but not E2 or E3 participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate a significant contribution of the APOE genotype to the EPA-lipid profile relationship; however, the results do not explain the differences in previous findings regarding LDL-C, triglycerides or total cholesterol. Future investigators examining the effects of EPA on HDL-C or lipoprotein characteristics may consider including APOE genotype in their analyses.
authors: Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
authors: Shuang
authors: S
authors: Liang
authors: Lyn M
authors: LM
authors: Steffen
authors: Brian T
authors: BT
authors: Steffen
authors: Weihua
authors: W
authors: Guan
authors: Natalie L
authors: NL
authors: Weir
authors: Stephen S
authors: SS
authors: Rich
authors: Ani
authors: A
authors: Manichaikul
authors: Jose D
authors: JD
authors: Vargas
authors: Michael Y
authors: MY
authors: Tsai
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000235:genetics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D001213:Asian / Q000235:genetics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000235:genetics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000235:genetics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D008055:Lipids