Potential environmental effects on adult lipoprotein(a) levels: results from Swedish twins

Two hundred and ninety four pairs of Swedish twins reared apart and twins reared together were used to evaluate the importance of genetic and environmental influences on lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) levels. Lp(a) levels ranged from <10 mg/l to 926 mg/l with 7.9% of the sample having undetectable Lp(a) levels (i.e. <10 mg/l). A substantial genetic component in Lp(a) variation was indicated by a heritability estimate of approximately 90%. No difference in heritability was found across age groups. Quantitative genetic analyses also suggest correlated environmental effects most likely composed of maternal, neonatal and postnatal environmental influences. However, these effects did not reach statistical significance, partly due to a lack of power. Results from analyses of co-twin differences in Lp(a) levels for monozygotic twins indicate that sex hormone use may be of importance for Lp(a) variation in women. There was no evidence of potential influences of alcohol consumption, beta-blocker and diuretic administration on Lp(a) levels in either men or women.