title: Interaction between BMI and APOE genotype is associated with changes in the plasma long-chain-PUFA response to a fish-oil supplement in healthy participants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Carriers of the apolipoprotein E ɛ4 (APOE4) allele are lower responders to a docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplement than are noncarriers. This effect could be exacerbated in overweight individuals because DHA metabolism changes according to body mass index (BMI; in kg/m²).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the plasma fatty acid (FA) response to a DHA-rich supplement in APOE4 carriers and noncarriers consuming a high-saturated fat diet (HSF diet) and, in addition, evaluated whether being overweight changed this response.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was part of the SATgenɛ trial. Forty-one APOE4 carriers and 41 noncarriers were prospectively recruited and consumed an HSF diet for 8-wk followed by 8 wk of consumption of an HSF diet with the addition of DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (HSF + DHA diet; 3.45 g DHA/d and 0.5 g EPA/d). Fasting plasma samples were collected at the end of each intervention diet. Plasma total lipids (TLs) were separated into free FAs, neutral lipids (NLs), and phospholipids by using solid-phase extraction, and FA profiles in each lipid class were quantified by using gas chromatography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Because the plasma FA response to the HSF + DHA diet was correlated with BMI in APOE4 carriers but not in noncarriers, the following 2 groups were formed according to the BMI median: low BMI (<25.5) and high BMI (≥25.5). In response to the HSF + DHA diet, there were significant BMI × genotype interactions for changes in plasma concentrations of arachidonic acid and DHA in phospholipids and TLs and of EPA in NLs and TLs (P ≤ 0.05). APOE4 carriers were lower plasma responders to the DHA supplement than were noncarriers but only in the high-BMI group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate that apolipoprotein E genotype and BMI may be important variables that determine the plasma long-chain PUFA response to dietary fat manipulation. APOE4 carriers with BMI ≥25.5 may need higher intakes of DHA for cardiovascular or other health benefits than do noncarriers.
authors.affiliation: Research Center on Aging, Health and Social Services Centre - University Institute of Geriatrics of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada; Departments of Physiology and.
authors.forename: Raphaël
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chouinard-Watkins
authors.affiliation: Research Center on Aging, Health and Social Services Centre - University Institute of Geriatrics of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada; Departments of Physiology and.
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Conway
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom; and.
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Minihane
authors.affiliation: Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition and Institute for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Kim G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition and Institute for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lovegrove
authors.affiliation: Research Center on Aging, Health and Social Services Centre - University Institute of Geriatrics of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada; Departments of Physiology and Medicine, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada; melanie.plourde2@usherbrooke.ca.
authors.forename: Mélanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plourde
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4 / Q000235:genetics*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D005395:Fish Oils
keywords: BMI; DHA; apolipoprotein E ɛ4; fatty acid metabolism; lipids