Document Detail


Do gene-environment interactions influence fasting plasma lipids? A study of twins.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  15379757     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to determine the influence of smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on lipids, independently of genetic factors, and to detect whether gene-environment interactions influence these associations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fasting plasma total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoproteins AI and B and lipoprotein(a) were measured in 685 female twins (96 monozygotic, 230 dizygotic pairs and 33 singletons). RESULTS: Smokers had higher triglyceride and lower HDL cholesterol levels than never-smokers (P < 0.001). After controlling for genetic influences, smoking accounted for 0.35 mmol L(-1) and 0.22 mmol L(-1) differences in triglyceride and HDL cholesterol levels, respectively (P < 0.005), remaining significant after excluding alcohol-discordant twin pairs. In a gene-environment interaction analysis, the association between smoking and triglycerides was exaggerated in subjects at high genetic risk of hypertriglyceridaemia (interaction P=0.04). All levels of alcohol consumption were associated with higher HDL cholesterol levels than abstinence, but only moderate alcohol consumers had lower LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels. In monozygotic twins concordant for smoking, an alcohol intake > 10 units week(-1) accounted for a 0.32 mmol L(-1) difference in LDL cholesterol, independently of genetic effects (P=0.04). In postmenopausal women, those using HRT had 0.54 mmol L(-1) lower LDL cholesterol and 0.21 micromol L(-1) lower lipoprotein(a) levels than nonusers (P < 0.001 and P=0.04, respectively); these differences were attenuated after accounting for genetic effects in monozygotic twins. Although physically active subjects had higher levels of HDL cholesterol than nonactive subjects, this was nonsignificant after adjusting for genetic factors. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking-induced aberrations in HDL cholesterol and triglycerides and alcohol-related differences in LDL cholesterol were independent of genetic influences. The association between smoking and hypertriglyceridaemia was accentuated in high genetic risk individuals.
Authors:
J R Greenfield; K Samaras; A B Jenkins; P J Kelly; T D Spector; L V Campbell
Related Documents :
1638777 - Lovastatin in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia in nephrotic syndrome due to diabet...
12643187 - The effect of dietary intervention on serum lipid levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus.
16193197 - Walnut consumption in hyperlipidemic patients.
7900717 - Plasma lipid levels and psychologic characteristics in men.
16441917 - Evidence of negative energy balance using doubly labelled water in elite kenyan enduran...
12679447 - A randomized trial comparing a very low carbohydrate diet and a calorie-restricted low ...
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Twin Study    
Journal Detail:
Title:  European journal of clinical investigation     Volume:  34     ISSN:  0014-2972     ISO Abbreviation:  Eur. J. Clin. Invest.     Publication Date:  2004 Sep 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2004-09-21     Completed Date:  2004-12-17     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0245331     Medline TA:  Eur J Clin Invest     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  590-8     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Aged
Alcohol Drinking / blood*
Body Composition
Exercise / physiology*
Female
Hormone Replacement Therapy*
Humans
Lipids / blood*
Middle Aged
Smoking / blood*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Lipids

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Endothelial markers in chronic heart failure: training normalizes exercise-induced vWF release.
Next Document:  Precocious puberty at an endocrine centre in Jordan.