A positive relationship between Apo ε2 allele and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol

This study explored the relationship between ApoE genotypes and the fasting serum levels of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triacylglycerol in an elderly Chinese population. A total of 500 subjects aged 65 to 74 years were randomly selected in southern Taiwan from April to June 2001. Two hundred fifty-six participants, who agreed to have additional venous blood withdrawal for genetic study, were regarded as the participant group, and the other 244 participants, who disagreed to have additional venous blood withdrawal, were included in the control group. In the participant group, the most prevalent ApoE allele was the ε3 allele (89.65%), followed by the ε4 allele (7.81%), and the ε2 allele (2.54%). After holding sex, age, education, and income factors as constant, only the ε2 allele associated with plasma HDL-C was statistically significant. Elderly women tended to have higher plasma total cholesterol and HDL-C than elderly men. The Apo ε2 allele had an increasing effect on plasma HDL-C relative to the non–Apo ε2 allele. Such a relationship is particularly important in investigating the roles of genetic and environmental factors in cardiovascular disease.