Apolipoprotein A5 polymorphisms interact with dietary fat intake in association with markers of metabolic syndrome in the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study

Abstract

The apolipoprotein A5 (APOA5) ‐1131T>C and S19W single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been associated with plasma lipids concentration and metabolic syndrome (MetS), independently and in modulation by dietary factors. Puerto Ricans have high frequency of the two APOA5 variants, suggesting a role of the SNPs on such outcomes in this population. We aimed to determine the association of APOA5 ‐1131T>C and S19W with plasma lipids and markers of MetS, alone and in interaction with total fat intake, in Puerto Ricans living in the Boston, MA area (n=802, 45‐75 yrs). After adjusting for potential confounders, the APOA5 S19W variant was associated with HDL‐C (P=0.044); minor allele carriers had lower HDL‐C than those with the common variant (mean ± SE = 43.3 ± 1.0 versus 45.5 ± 0.5), even after adjustment for plasma triglycerides (TG), (P=0.012). Neither polymorphism was associated with other plasma lipids. Interaction of the ‐1131T>C SNP with total fat intake was observed for plasma TG and total cholesterol (P=0.032 and P=0.034, respectively). APOA5 S19W showed an interaction with total fat intake in association with systolic and diastolic blood pressure (P=0.002 and P=0.007, respectively). Neither SNP was associated with MetS in overall analysis or after stratifying by total fat intake. In conclusion, dietary fat intake seems to play a role in the mechanism of APOA5 SNPs on lipid and metabolic markers in Puerto Ricans.