Hepatic lipase (LIPC) C-514T gene polymorphism is associated with cardiometabolic parameters and cardiovascular risk factors but not with fatty liver in Mexican population

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of the C-514T (rs1800588) gene polymorphism of the hepatic lipase (LIPC) as susceptibility marker for fatty liver in the Mexican population. The polymorphism was genotyped by 5′ exonuclease TaqMan assays in a group of 1468 subjects (980 with and 488 without fatty liver) belonging to the Genetics of Atherosclerotic Disease (GEA) Mexican Study. Anthropometric and biochemical measurements were performed on all individuals. The polymorphism was not associated with fatty liver, however, under dominant model, the TT genotype was associated with increased levels of triglycerides (P = 0.0002), apolipoprotein A1 (P = 0.015), triglycerides/HDL-cholesterol index (P = 0.046) and increased frequency of type 2 diabetes mellitus (P = 0.045). On the other hand, the same genotype was associated with the presence of small LDLs (P = 0.003). The risk analysis showed that under a dominant model, the LIPC C-514T polymorphism was associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes (OR = 1.42, P = 0.029), hypertriglyceridemia (OR = 1.36, P = 0.006), and coronary artery calcification (CAC) ≥ 1 (OR = 1.44, P = 0.015) and decreased risk of hypoalphalipoproteinemia (OR = 0.78, P = 0.036). The results suggest that the LIPC C-154T polymorphism is associated with cardiometabolic parameters and cardiovascular risk factors but not with fatty liver in Mexican population. The association detected with CAC indicates that this polymorphism could be a marker for subclinical atherosclerosis.