Enhanced Diabetes Susceptibility in Community Dwelling Han Elders Carrying the Apolipoprotein E 3/3 Genotype

• Published in: PloS one 2016-03, Vol.11 (3), p.e0151336-e0151336
• Main Authors: Ban, Chun-Xia, Zhong, Li, Wang, Tao, Zhu, Min-Jie, Wang, Jing-Hua, Zhang, Zhen-Lian, Wang, Zhe, Su, Ning, Liu, Yuan-Yuan, Shi, Yan-Chen, Xiao, Shi-Fu, Li, Xia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alleles; Analysis; Apolipoprotein E3 - genetics; Apolipoproteins; Biology and Life Sciences; Blood; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Blood pressure; Cardiovascular disease; Cholesterol; Cognitive ability; Communities; Correlation; Dementia disorders; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus - blood; Diabetes Mellitus - genetics; Elderly; Ethnic Groups - genetics; Fasting; Female; Genetic aspects; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genotype & phenotype; Genotypes; Geriatrics; Glucose; Health aspects; Health risk assessment; Heterozygote; Humans; Hypertension; Independent Living; Laboratory testing; Lipids; Low density lipoprotein; Male; Medicine and Health Sciences; Middle Aged; Minority & ethnic groups; Older people; People and places; Population (statistical); Residential density; Risk factors; Statistical analysis; Statistical significance; Triglycerides
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151336

Despite Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) being one of the main apolipoproteins in the blood, the association between its genotype and the high cholesterol or blood glucose levels commonly seen in clinical practice is inconclusive. Such research is also lacking in the Han population. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between APOE genotype, diabetes, and plasma glucose and lipid levels. We included 243 community-dwelling elderly residents in this study. Participant APOE genotypes were assessed and were simultaneously tested for weight, height, blood glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, and high- and low-density lipoprotein. In addition, gender, age, years of education, cognitive function, and medical history was recorded. Subjects were divided into 3 groups based on APOE genotype: APOE ε2 group (ε2/ε2 and ε2/ε3), APOE ε3 group (ε3/ε3), and APOE ε4 group (ε2/ε4, ε3/ε4 and ε4/ε4). Comparisons between groups were conducted for the incidence of diabetes, high blood pressure, and dementia, as well as for differences in body-mass index, fasting plasma glucose, and blood lipids. The APOE ε3/ε3 genotype exhibited the highest frequency (70.4%) among the subjects. Participants in the APOE ε3 group demonstrated significantly higher levels of fasting plasma glucose than those in the APOE ε2 and APOE ε4 groups (P