Lack of association of apolipoprotein E (Apo E) polymorphism with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome: the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Family Heart Study

Sex-specific differences in the association between APOE genotype and metabolic syndrome among middle-aged and older rural Indians

Background

Metabolic syndrome (MetS), characterized by elevated blood pressure, high blood glucose, excess abdominal fat, and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels, significantly increases the risk of various non-communicable diseases. This study focuses on understanding the sex-specific association between Apolipoprotein E (APOE) polymorphism and MetS among middle-aged and older adults in rural southern India.

Methods

This cross-sectional study utilized data from the Centre for Brain Research-Srinivaspura Aging, Neuro Senescence, and COGnition (CBR-SANSCOG) study. Participants (n = 3741) underwent comprehensive clinical assessments and blood investigations, including APOE genotyping. MetS was defined using the National Cholesterol Education Program - Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) and the Consensus criteria. Statistical analyses, including chi-square tests, ANCOVA, and logistic regression, were conducted to explore the association of APOE genotype with MetS and its components, stratified by sex.

Results

Females carrying the APOE E4 allele had 1.31-fold increased odds of MetS (95 % CI: 1.02,1.69, p = 0.035) according to the NCEP ATP III criteria but not when the Consensus criteria were applied. The study also noted sex-specific differences in the association of APOE with various MetS components, including lipid levels and waist circumference.

Discussion

Our findings reveal a sex-specific association between the APOE E4 allele and MetS, with only females having an increased risk. This study contributes to the understanding of the genetic underpinnings of MetS and highlights the importance of considering sex-specific differences in MetS research and its prevention strategies. This study underscores the complexity of MetS etiology and emphasizes the need for further research to elucidate the role of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors in its progression, particularly in sex-specific contexts.

Genetic Variants at the APOE Locus Predict Cardiometabolic Traits and Metabolic Syndrome: A Taiwan Biobank Study

Several apolipoprotein genes are located at the APOE locus on chromosome 19q13.32. This study explored the genetic determinants of cardiometabolic traits and metabolic syndrome at the APOE locus in a Taiwanese population. A total of 81,387 Taiwan Biobank (TWB) participants were enrolled to undergo genotype−phenotype analysis using data from the Axiom Genome-Wide CHB arrays. Regional association analysis with conditional analysis revealed lead single-nucleotide variations (SNVs) at the APOE locus: APOE rs7412 and rs429358 for total, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels; CLPTM1 rs3786505 and rs11672748 for LDL and HDL cholesterol levels; and APOC1 rs438811 and APOE-APOC1 rs439401 for serum triglyceride levels. Genotype−phenotype association analysis revealed a significant association of rs429358 and rs438811 with metabolic syndrome and of rs7412, rs438811, and rs439401 with serum albumin levels (p < 0.0015). Stepwise regression analysis indicated that CLPTM1 variants were independently associated with LDL and HDL cholesterol levels (p = 3.10 × 10−15 for rs3786505 and p = 1.48 × 10−15 for rs11672748, respectively). APOE rs429358 and APOC1 rs438811 were also independently associated with metabolic syndrome (p = 2.29 × 10−14) and serum albumin levels (p = 3.80 × 10−6), respectively. In conclusion, in addition to APOE variants, CLPTM1 is a novel candidate locus for LDL and HDL cholesterol levels at the APOE gene region in Taiwan. Our data also indicated that APOE and APOC1 variants were independently associated with metabolic syndrome and serum albumin levels, respectively. These results revealed the crucial role of genetic variants at the APOE locus in predicting cardiometabolic traits and metabolic syndrome.

Longitudinal association of Apolipoprotein E polymorphism with lipid profile, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome: Results from a 15 year follow-up study

AIMS

To examine the association of different APOE alleles with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) as well as the influence of high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) on these associations.

METHODS

We analyzed data from 3917 participants aged 20-81 years of the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) from Northeast Germany with a median follow-up time of 10.8 years. Linear and logistic mixed models were performed to test the association of APOE alleles with T2DM and MetS.

RESULTS

We observed 393 T2DM and 1411 MetS events at baseline, and 576 T2DM and 1342 MetS events over the follow-up. The E4 carriers had a lower odds of developing T2DM (OR: 0.47 [0.24, 0.94]) than E3 homozygotes even after adjustment for potential confounders. The E2 carriers showed no associations. The inverse association between E4 alleles and T2DM moderately attenuated after adjustment for hs-CRP levels. The lower odds of developing T2DM in E4 carriers was more pronounced in participants without obesity, hypertension or MetS. However, both E2 and E4 carriers had higher odds of developing MetS (E2 OR: 1.45 [1.03, 2.03]; E4 OR: 1.56 [1.17, 2.09]) than E3 homozygotes.

CONCLUSIONS

While the presence of APOE E4 allele might increase the chance of MetS through its major action on lipids, E4 allele might offer a protection towards T2DM through its influence on inflammation.

Apolipoprotein E4 association with metabolic syndrome depends on body fatness

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The human Apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene is polymorphic. The APOE*4 allele is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and could contribute to the development of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) as it may affect all MetS components. We hypothesize that the common APOE4 polymorphism differentially regulates MetS risk and that this association might be modulated by body fatness.

METHODS & RESULTS

We used body mass index (BMI) as surrogate of fatness and cross-sectionally studied the prevalence of MetS in 4408 middle-aged men of the Aragon Workers Health Study (AWHS). Our analysis revealed i) a gene dose-dependent association between APOE*4 allele and increased risk for MetS, ii) this association primarily derived from the overweight subjects. For these individuals, the MetS risk was higher in APOE*4 carriers than in non-carriers (Odds Ratio = 1.31; 95% CI, 1.03-1.67). Additionally, we examined 3908 healthy young individuals from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) cohort, followed-up for 25 years. Compared with APOE*4 non-carriers, APOE*4 presence significantly increased the risk of developing MetS (Hazard Ratio, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.00-1.26). Again, an interplay between APOE*4 and the longitudinal development of fatness towards the onset of MetS occurred throughout the study. For individuals with BMI gain below the median, the cumulative onset rate of MetS was significantly higher in APOE*4 carriers than in the non-carriers (HR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.07-1.55).

CONCLUSIONS

Carrying APOE*4 alleles increases MetS in a dose-dependent manner, characterizing individual's APOE genotype might help identify at-risk subjects for preventive intervention.

Obesity, metabolic abnormality, and health-related quality of life by gender: a cross-sectional study in Korean adults

PURPOSE

This study sought to compare the association between health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and four body health types by gender.

METHODS

The study included 6217 men and 8243 women over 30 years of age chosen from a population-based survey. Participants were grouped by body mass index and metabolic abnormality into four types: metabolically healthy normal weight, metabolically abnormal but normal weight (MANW), metabolically healthy obesity (MHO), and metabolically abnormal obesity (MAO). HRQoL was measured using the EQ-5D health questionnaire. The outcomes encompassed five dimensions (mobility, self-care, usual activity, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression), and the impaired HRQoL dichotomized by the EQ-5D preference score. Complex sample multivariate binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to adjust for sociodemographic variables, lifestyle factors, and disease comorbidity.

RESULTS

Among men, those in the MANW group presented worse conditions on all dimensions and the impaired HRQoL compared to other men. However, no significant effect remained after adjusting for relevant covariates. For women, those in the MAO group had the most adversely affected HRQoL followed by those females in the MHO group. The domain of mobility and impaired HRQoL variable of the MAO and MHO groups remained significant when controlling for all covariates in the model.

CONCLUSIONS

The MANW is the least favorable condition of HRQoL for men, suggesting that metabolic health may associate with HRQoL more than obesity for males. In women, the MAO and MHO groups had the most adversely affected HRQoL, implying that MHO is not a favorable health condition and that obesity, in general, may be strongly associated with HRQoL in women.