Different Apolipoprotein E Polymorphisms Are Not Associated with Different Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Values in a Sample of Spanish General Population

Background: Apolipoprotein E (Apo E) is a key factor in the atherosclerosis process, but the influence of its genetic polimorphisms in southern Europe populations is not well known.

Objectives: The present transversal, population-based study aimed to determine if Apo E genetic polymorphism is associated with early atherosclerosis, as assessed by carotid Intima-Media Thickness (cIMT), or with presence of carotid atherosclerotic plaques.

Patients and Methods: The study sample included 171 individuals older than 40 years who were randomly selected from the population assigned to a district medical center of Burgos, Spain. The proportion of males and females in the sample and their ages matched the adult Spanish general population. cIMT and number of carotid atherosclerotic plaques were determined to assess if higher values were associated with a particular ApoE genetic polymorphism.

Results: Neither cIMT nor the number of atherosclerotic plaques differed among the subjects with Apo E2, E3, and E4 genotypes. However, both total cholesterol and Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol were higher in the E4 than in the E2 group.

Conclusions: In this sample of adult Spanish population, no association was found between Apo E genotypes and cIMT.