The −250G/A polymorphism in the hepatic lipase gene promoter influences the postprandial lipemic response in healthy men

Abstract

Background and aim The −250G/A promoter polymorphism of the hepatic lipase gene has been associated with changes in the activity of the enzyme. We investigated whether this polymorphism modifies the postprandial response of triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins (TRL) in young normolipemic males. Methods and results Fifty-one healthy apolipoprotein (apo) E3/E3 male volunteers (30 G/G and 21 carriers of the A allele) underwent a vitamin A fat-loading test and blood samples were drawn every hour until the 6th, and every 2 h and 30 min until the 11th. Total plasma cholesterol and triacylglycerols (TG), as well as cholesterol, TG and retinyl palmitate (RP) in TRL, isolated by ultracentrifugation, were determined. Carriers of the A allele showed a higher response ( P = 0.008), a higher area under the curve (AUC; P = 0.022) and a lower RP peak time ( P = 0.029) in small TRL during the postprandial response, as well as a lower peak time in total plasma TG levels ( P = 0.034) and large TRL-TG ( P = 0.033) than subjects who were homozygous for the G allele. Conclusion Our data indicate that the presence of the A allele in the −250G/A promoter polymorphism of the hepatic lipase gene is associated with a higher postprandial lipemic response.