[Effects of APOC3 polymorphisms on the plasma lipids in healthy adolescents with different body mass index]

To investigate the possible effects of apolipoprotein C I gene (APOC3) polymorphisms on plasma lipids in healthy adolescents with different body mass index (BMI).

Seven hundred and twenty three adolescents were divided into four groups according to BMI: group 1 CBMI= (17.80 +/- 0.75) kg/m2,n=180], group 2 [BMI = (19.39 +/- 0.32) kg/m2, n=182), group 3 [BMI= (20.68 +/- 0.43) kg/m2, n=1813 and group 4 [BMI= (23.40 +/- 2.05) kg/m2 ,n=180J. Fasting venous blood samples were collected, plasma lipids were determined and genome DNA was extracted for determining the genotypes of the APOC3 Sst I and -482C>T polymorphisms by PCR-RFLP.

With the elevation of BMI, height and plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased significantly (P<0.001 for both), body mass, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist/hip ratio, plasma triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels increased significantly (P<0.001 for all). No significant differences in TG levels among Sst I genotypes were observed in group 1, group 2 and group 3; but in group 4, significant differences in TG levels among Sst I genotypes were observed, S2 carriers had higher TG levels than the adolescents with S1S1 genotype. No significant differences in plasma lipids among -482C>T genotypes were observed in all groups.

The elevation of plasma TG levels by the S2 allele of APOC3 Sst I polymorphism is associated with BMI. It is possible that the reduction of body mass could favorably modulate the elevation of TG levels by S2 allele in healthy adolescents.