title: Association of Apolipoprotein E Polymorphism with Impact on Overweight University Pupils.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity is known to be a complex disorder caused by both genetic and environmental factors. Patients with obesity tend to develop cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Previous studies have revealed that obesity is associated with genetic variations including those found in the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene, which also affects lipid profiles. Hence, in this study, we aimed to perform a molecular characterization of APOE gene polymorphisms found in overweight subjects within a Saudi population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-control study was performed consisting of 198 cases and 198 controls, selected from participants at the King Saud University. TaqMan genotyping was performed to characterize the APOE gene polymorphisms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The present study identified the E4 allele of the APOE gene as being significantly associated with obesity in the Saudi population (p = 0.0001). We found a statistically significant difference in the genotype distribution between cases and controls [for E3/E4: OR, 2.16 (95% CI: 1.19-3.91); p = 0.009].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant differences were observed in the APOE allele profiles (p < 0.001) and lipid profile parameters, including triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein among the obese patients compared with the non-obese control population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results confirm that APOE variants are associated with obesity in the Saudi population.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University , Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia .
authors.forename: Khalid Khalaf
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Alharbi
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University , Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia .
authors.forename: Rabbani
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Syed
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Biology Science, College of Science and Arts, Al-Qassim University , Buraidah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia .
authors.forename: Fawiziah Khalaf
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Alharbi
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University , Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia .
authors.forename: Imran Ali
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D013334:Students; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C000612345:ApoE protein, human; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides
keywords: Saudi Arabia; TaqMan assay; apolipoprotein E; obesity