Background: Two minor apolipoprotein A5 (APOA5) gene haplotypes, represented by -1131T>C and S19W polymorphisms, are strong determinants of plasma triglyceride (TG) concentration variability across human populations. Hypertriglyceridemia is frequent in type 2 diabetes (T2D) and hyperchylomicronemia is not uncommon.
Methods: We investigated the association of -1131T>C and S19W polymorphisms with diabetic dyslipidemia in 400 Caucasian T2D patients divided in 2 groups: group N with 130 normotriglyceridemics (TG<90th percentile) and group M with 270 moderately hypertriglyceridemics. A third group of 51 diabetic patients (group H) with history of hyperchylomicronemia (TG>15 mM) was also studied.
Results: The -1131C allele was more frequent in both mild and severe hypertriglyceridemia (20.6% vs 9.8% vs 5.0%, group H vs M vs N, p<0.001). The 19W allele was more frequent only in patients with hyperchylomicronemia (14.0% vs 6.5% vs 6.1%, group H vs M vs N, p=0.001). In group N+M, the -1131C allele was associated with higher TG (+13%, p=0.034) and lower HDLc (-10%, p=0.004). The 19W allele was only associated with lower HDLc (-9%, p=0.022).
Conclusion: These results suggest that in T2D APOA5 polymorphisms contribute to modulate dyslipidemia. Both -1131T>C and S19W polymorphisms are associated with hyperchylomicronemia and only -1131T>C polymorphism with mild hypertriglyceridemia.