A lipoprotein lipase gene polymorphism interacts with consumption of alcohol and unsaturated fat to modulate serum HDL-cholesterol concentrations

J Nutr. 2013 Oct;143(10):1618-25. doi: 10.3945/jn.113.175315. Epub 2013 Jul 31.

Abstract

There are limited data from prospective studies regarding interactions between lipoprotein lipase gene (LPL) and lifestyle factors in association with HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations, a biomarker of coronary heart disease risk. Our prospective cohort study investigated the interactive effects of a common LPL polymorphism and lifestyle factors, including obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and dietary intake, on follow-up measurements of HDL-C and triglyceride (TG) concentrations. A total of 5314 Korean men and women aged 40-69 y participated in the study. Serum HDL-C and TG concentrations were measured in all participants at baseline and 6-y follow-up examinations. On the basis of genome-wide association data for HDL-C and TG concentrations, we selected the most significant polymorphism (rs10503669), which was in high linkage disequilibrium with the serine 447 stop (S447×) mutation (D' = 0.99) of LPL. We found that carrying the T allele reflecting the LPL ×447 allele was positively associated with follow-up measurement of HDL-C concentrations (P < 0.001). In the linear regression model adjusted for baseline HDL-C concentration and potential risk factors, we observed interactive effects of the polymorphism and consumption of alcohol (P-interaction < 0.01) and unsaturated fat (P-interaction < 0.05) on follow-up measurement of HDL-C concentrations. We also observed interactive effects of the polymorphism and body mass index (P-interaction < 0.01) on follow-up measurement of TG concentrations after adjusting for the baseline level and potential risk factors. Our findings suggest that carriers of the LPL ×447 allele benefit from moderate alcohol consumption and a diet high in unsaturated fat to minimize reduction of blood HDL-C concentrations and that obese persons who do not carry the LPL ×447 allele need to control body weight to prevent hypertriglyceridemia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Alcohol Drinking
  • Alleles
  • Asian People / genetics
  • Body Mass Index
  • Cholesterol, HDL / blood
  • Cholesterol, HDL / genetics*
  • Diet
  • Dietary Fats / pharmacology*
  • Ethanol / pharmacology*
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / pharmacology*
  • Female
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
  • Humans
  • Hypertriglyceridemia / blood
  • Hypertriglyceridemia / etiology
  • Hypertriglyceridemia / genetics
  • Linkage Disequilibrium
  • Lipoprotein Lipase / blood
  • Lipoprotein Lipase / genetics*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation
  • Obesity / blood
  • Obesity / complications
  • Obesity / genetics
  • Polymorphism, Genetic*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Republic of Korea
  • Triglycerides / blood*

Substances

  • Cholesterol, HDL
  • Dietary Fats
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
  • Triglycerides
  • Ethanol
  • Lipoprotein Lipase