ApoB-100 gene EcoRI polymorphism. Relations to plasma lipoprotein changes associated with abdominal visceral obesity

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the EcoRI restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the apolipoprotein (apo) B-100 gene influences the associations described among obesity, regional adipose tissue distribution, and plasma lipoprotein levels. For this purpose, blood samples were collected from 56 healthy men for whom we had extensive measurements of regional adipose tissue distribution (both anthropometric and computed tomography-derived measurements) and data on the plasma lipoprotein-lipid profile. DNA was extracted from white blood cells, and RFLP analysis was performed. Subjects were classified into two groups on the basis of their apoB-100 EcoRI genotype: subjects homozygous for the major 11-kb allele, the 11/11 group (n=40), and subjects carrying the minor 13-kb allele, the 13/11 group (n=16). Subjects carrying the 13-kb allele had lower percent body fat and abdominal adipose tissue accumulation than subjects homozygous for the 11-kb allele (P