The role of exercise on serum lipid concentrations varies with Apo E genotype : a study in Thais subjects

Abstract

Apolipoprotein E (apo E) is one of several candidate genes involved in cardiovascular risk. However, the interaction between genes and environmental factors, such as exercise, dietary and lipid lowering intervention, may be affected the incidence of the disease. Our aim was to investigate the effect of physical activity (PA) and apo E polymorphism on plasma lipids and plasma glucose levels in 273 healthy, adult Thais. Plasma lipid and glucose concentrations were determined by enzymatic-colorimetric methods and apo E phenotypes by PCR-RFLP. A PA index was calculated from exercise data which assessed by a questionnaire. Out of 273 subjects, apo E genotype frequencies were 78% for E3/E3, 7% for E2/E3, 5.9% for E2/E4, 8.8% for E3/E4, and 0.7% for E4/E4. Apo E genotypes were associated with total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), p<0.05. The presence of E4 allele was related to higher TC and LDL (p<0.05). TC and LDL responses to exercise varied with apo E phenotypes. PA did not effect on TC and LDL in E4 carrier. Thus, apo E phenotype partly determines the effect of PA on plasma TC and LDL in healthy, adult Thais with regular PA.