Apolipoprotein B polymorphism distribution among a sample of obese Egyptian females with visceral obesity and its influence on lipid profile.

BACKGROUND

Regional distribution of adipose tissue is more important than total amount of body fat in predicting complications associated with obesity. Apolipoprotein B (Apo B) plays a central role in lipid metabolism.

AIM

To investigate the importance of the XbaI polymorphism of Apo B gene (C7673T) as risk factor for visceral obesity and its influence on lipid profile.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Total of 122 obese adult females (BMI ⩾ 30 kg/m): 56 of them with visceral obesity (⩾7 cm by abdominal Ultrasound) and 66 without visceral obesity and 36 age matched non-obese (BMI ⩽ 25 kg/m) without visceral obesity were studied. Anthropometric assessment, body composition, visceral obesity and lipid profile evaluation were attempted. Genetic analysis of Apo B XbaI was performed using Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).

RESULTS

Visceral obesity was associated significantly with the presence of the heterozygous (CT) genotype of the XbaI Apo B gene ( < 0.001). Frequency of homozygous (CC) was significantly the least genotype found in females with visceral obesity, while homozygote (TT) genotype was more frequent in those without visceral obesity. T allele (about 70%) was more frequent than C allele (about 30%) in all groups. Significant lowest values of visceral obesity, triglyceride and HDL-C were associated with the presence of (CC) genotype and the highest values were associated with the presence of the heterozygous (CT) genotype; except HDL-C with (TT) genotype.

CONCLUSIONS

Study reveals considerable association of Apo B XbaI gene polymorphism with visceral obesity and some lipid profile parameters (TG and HDL-C) among Egyptian females.