Interactions of apolipoprotein E genotype and dietary fat intake of healthy older persons during mid-adult life.

In a case control study of genetic and lifestyle risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD), we obtained recalled food consumption frequencies translated to nutrients and averaged over 2 age periods of adult life, 20 to 39 and 40 to 59 years. The proportion of controls with the apolipoprotein E epsilon4 (APOE epsilon4) genotype was significantly higher in the lowest tertile of fat consumption (36.3% of energy) compared with controls with epsilon4 in the highest tertile of fat intake (44.6% of energy). Healthy older persons with the epsilon4 allele who survived to be included in this study may be protected with lower dietary fat intake and other healthy behaviors. Diet-genotype interactions may have important influences on disorders of later life.