Apolipoprotein E4 phenotype increases non-fasting serum triglyceride concentration in infants - the STRIP study

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Genetics
• Cardiovascular Health

Background:

• Apolipoprotein E (apo E) phenotypes are known to influence serum cholesterol.
• Understanding factors affecting infant lipid profiles is crucial for early cardiovascular risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between apo E phenotypes and non-fasting serum triglyceride values in infants.
• To determine if apo E genotype influences triglyceride metabolism in early childhood.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of non-fasting serum triglyceride concentrations in 1062 infants aged 7 and 13 months from the STRIP project.
• Stratification of infants based on apo E phenotypes (E4/4, E3/4, E3/3, E2/3).
• Statistical comparison of triglyceride levels across different apo E phenotypes, controlling for weight, milk type, and feeding interval.

Main Results:

• Infants with apo E4/4 and apo E3/4 phenotypes exhibited significantly higher non-fasting serum triglyceride concentrations compared to those with the apo E3/3 phenotype at both 7 and 13 months.
• These differences were independent of infant weight, milk type, and time since the last meal.
• The apo E varepsilon4 allele was associated with elevated triglyceride levels in infants.

Conclusions:

• Apolipoprotein E phenotypes regulate non-fasting serum triglyceride levels in healthy infants.
• The apo E3/4 and apo E4/4 phenotypes predispose infants to higher triglyceride values than the apo E3/3 phenotype.
• The varepsilon4 allele may contribute to atherosclerosis risk through its impact on postprandial triglyceride metabolism in infants.