Multiple genetic determinants of plasma lipid levels in Caribbean Hispanics

ObjectivesTo identify candidate genes in relation to plasma lipid levels in Caribbean Hispanics.Design and methodsA total of 114 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at 17 lipid-related genes were genotyped in 477 Caribbean Hispanics from the Northern Manhattan Study (NOMAS). Analyses for each SNP and haplotype were performed to evaluate the associations with four lipid traits: high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C, LDL-C), triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC).ResultsWe identified 19 SNPs at 10 genes that were significantly related to lipids (p < 0.01), including nine involved in the reverse cholesterol transport pathway, and one involved in bile acid synthesis. Three genes, namely the apolipoprotein A5, apolipoprotein B and cytochrome p450 polypeptide 7A1 genes, accounted for the largest proportion of variation in HDL-C/TG, TC and LDL-C respectively.ConclusionsThe cumulative effects of multiple genetic variants led to a substantially better prediction of inter-individual variations in lipid levels.