Association of apoliprotein E polymorphisms and metabolic syndrome in subjects with extreme obesity

Background: Obesity has been linked to metabolic syndrome (MS), which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Polymorphisms of Apolipoprotein E have also been associated with increased CVD risk. Therefore, this study investigated the association between MS and Apo E polymorphisms.

Methods: We measured anthropometric and biochemical variables and determined the Apo E genotype of 147 grade III obese patients.

Results: The percentage of female subjects was 86.4%. The mean age and BMI of the subjects were 41 years and 53.5 kg/m(2), respectively. MS had been diagnosed in 79% of the subjects. The proportions of those exhibiting MS risk factors were as follows: 100% had a high BMI, 80% had hypertension, 65% had low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), 38% had diabetes, and 39% had hypertriglyceridemia. We found five genotypes for which the allelic distribution was different in the MS group compared to the general population. The ε4 allele was more frequent in the group with neither MS nor hypertension.

Conclusions: The morbidly obese patients exhibited a higher incidence of MS and a different allelic distribution when compared with other populations. The ε4 allele was associated with the absence of MS and hypertension.