Association of apo E polymorphism with plasma lipid levels in a multiethnic elderly population

Abstract

Apolipoprotein E polymorphisms are important determinants of blood lipid levels and have been associated with longevity and atherosclerosis. However, information is limited on the effects of apo E variation on the lipids of nonwhite and elderly individuals. We tested the hypothesis that ape E polymorphisms are associated with plasma lipid levels in an elderly, multiethnic population. Cross-sectional data from 1068 noninstitutionalized individuals from northern Manhattan over the age of 64 who were not on a lipid-lowering diet or drug were analyzed. The ethnic distribution was 34% African-Americans, 47% Hispanics, and 19% non-Hispanic Caucasians. In the entire group, the most prevalent ape E allele was ε3 (76%), followed by ε4 (16%) and ε2 (8%); ε4 was more prevalent in African-Americans (21%) than in non-Hispanic Caucasians (12%) or Hispanics (14%). The apo ε2 allele was the most important correlate of plasma lipids, but this association varied across ethnoracial groups. After being adjusted for age, sex, obesity, diabetes mellitus, and alcohol intake, LDL cholesterol levels declined with each ape ε2 allele by 8.8 mg/dL in Hispanics and by 25.6 and 18.1 mg/dL in non- Hispanic Caucasians and African-Americans, respectively (P