Association between sequence variant of c.553 G > T in the apolipoprotein A5 gene and metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and carotid atherosclerosis

Common polymorphism of the apolipoprotein A5 gene (APOA5, c.553 G > T) related to metabolic syndrome components, insulin resistance, and carotid atherosclerosis remains unclear. We investigated the associations of the APOA5 c.553 G > T gene with various metabolic syndrome components and carotid artery atherosclerosis among family members. A total of 661 participants who provided complete genotyping and carotid artery measures were included in this study. Participants with APOA5 c.553 T carrier (GT and TT) were more likely to have higher levels of triglycerides and apolipoprotein B, as well as lower levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, than participants with the GG genotype. Individuals who carried T alleles had an increased risk of a high level of triglycerides (multivariate odds ratio [OR], 3.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.98–7.55; P < 0.0001) and low levels of HDL cholesterol (OR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.40–3.86; P = 0.0012) compared with those without T alleles. The age was an effect modifier for the association between APOA5 genotype and smoking, alcohol drinking, obesity, and lipid profiles, including total, HDL, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol; triglycerides; and apolipoproteins. In addition, the association between APOA5 genotype and hypertriglyceridemia was significant only in adult groups (OR, 3.53; 95% CI, 1.79–6.94), and the association between APOA5 genotype and low HDL cholesterol was stable in young adolescents (OR, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.19–4.78) and adults (OR, 2.20; 95% CI, 1.17–4.15). Our findings indicated that the APOA5 c.553 G > T polymorphism is associated with high triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol but not with other metabolic syndrome components or carotid atherosclerosis in this ethnic Chinese population.