Role of rs670 variant of APOA1 gene on lipid profile, insulin resistance and adipokine levels in obese subjects after weight loss with a dietary intervention.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of rs670 APOA1 gene polymorphism on obesity parameters, lipid profile, glucose metabolism markers, blood pressure and adipokine levels after a hypocaloric diet with Mediterranean pattern.

Methods: A population of 82 obese patients was studied before and after 12 weeks on a hypocaloric diet (500 kcal per day) in an interventional study of one arm. GG and GA + AA subjects receiving the same diet. Anthropometric measures and biochemical parameters (lipid profile, glucose metabolism, blood pressure and adipokine levels) were measured. Genotype of ApoA1 gene polymorphism (rs670) was evaluated. The A allele is the risk allele.

Results: After dietary intervention and in both genotype groups (GG vs. GA + AA), body mass index (BMI) (delta: -1.0 ± 0.8 kg/m2 vs. -1.4 ± 1.0 kg/m2: p = 0.02), weight (delta: -2.6 ± 2.1 kg vs. -3.6 ± 2.2 kg: p = 0.03), fat mass (delta: -1.6 ± 1.1 kg vs. -3.2 ± 1.0 kg: p = 0.01) and waist circumference (delta: -1.8 ± 0.6 cm vs. -2.2 ± 1.1 cm: p = 0.02) decreased. The decrease of the anthropometric parameters was higher in A allele carriers than non-A allele carriers. In A allele carriers, total cholesterol (delta: -11.1 ± 7.1 mg/dl vs. -20.1 ± 9.0 mg/dl: p = 0.02), LDL cholesterol (delta: -10.7 ± 4.1 mg/dl vs. -21.2 ± 8.0 mg/dl: p = 0.01), insulin levels (delta: -0.6 ± 0.8 UI/L vs. 3.7 ± 1.1 UI/L; p = 0.002) and insulin resistance with HOMA-IR (delta: -0.2 ± 0.3 units vs. 0.8 ± 0.4 units; p = 0.01) decreased. The improvement of leptin was similar in both genotype groups. Resistin and adiponectin levels remained unchanged after dietary intervention.

Conclusions: In this study the APOA1 (rs670) gene showed important effects on body weight, adiposity, LDL-cholesterol levels and insulin resistance after 12 weeks of the dietary intervention.