Association of apolipoprotein E promoter polymorphisms with bone structural traits is modified by dietary saturated fat intake - the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns study

Bone. 2011 May 1;48(5):1058-65. doi: 10.1016/j.bone.2011.01.013. Epub 2011 Jan 23.

Abstract

Association of apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele with peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) bone traits at the distal and shaft sites of the radius and tibia was evaluated in the Young Finns Cohort (n=1777). We also analyzed the interactions of the APOE promoter polymorphisms (-219G/T rs405509 and +113G/C rs440446) and bone traits within the APOE ε3/ε3 genotype (n=1025 and n=1013, respectively), and investigated the gene-environment interactions on bone traits with longitudinal saturated fatty acids (SAFA) intake. Differences between the ε4 allele carriers and noncarriers were modest and mostly nonsignificant. Within the APOE promoter -219G/T polymorphism, cortical strength index (CSI) and compressive bone strength index (BSI) at the distal radius (linear, P=0.003 and P=0.05, respectively) and tibia (linear, P=0.01 and P=0.03, respectively), and CSI at the tibial shaft (linear, P=0.04) decreased towards the -219T/T genotype in women. In men, total cross-sectional areas at the radial site and stress-strain index (SSI) at the radial shaft (linear, P=0.03 and P=0.04 and P=0.05, respectively) increased, and conversely cortical bone density and CSI at the radial shaft (linear, P=0.005 and P=0.05, respectively) and CSI at the tibial shaft (linear, P=0.03) decreased towards the -219T/T genotype. In the highest SAFA tertile, women with the -219T/T genotype had the smallest total area and SSI at the radial shaft (P=0.01 and P=0.02, respectively). Subjects with the APOE +113C/C genotype shared similar bone traits as subjects with the APOE -219T/T genotype. In conclusion, APOE genotypes -219T/T and +113C/C could be genetic markers for cortical bone strength. Furthermore, high longitudinal SAFA intake seems to be more detrimental to bone in women with the -219T/T and +133C/C genotypes than others.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Apolipoproteins E / genetics*
  • Bone and Bones / anatomy & histology*
  • Bone and Bones / diagnostic imaging
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / blood
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / genetics*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cholesterol / blood
  • Dietary Fats / pharmacology*
  • Fatty Acids / pharmacology*
  • Feeding Behavior / drug effects
  • Female
  • Finland
  • Gene Frequency / genetics
  • Heterozygote
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / genetics*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic*
  • Radiography
  • Radius / anatomy & histology
  • Radius / diagnostic imaging
  • Risk Factors
  • Tibia / anatomy & histology
  • Tibia / diagnostic imaging

Substances

  • Apolipoproteins E
  • Dietary Fats
  • Fatty Acids
  • Cholesterol