Gene-environment interactions of CETP gene variation in a high cardiovascular risk Mediterranean population

Cholesterol Ester Transfer Protein Taq1B Polymorphism and Its Association with Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Patients Undergoing Angiography in Yazd, Eastern Iran: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Several studies assessed the relationship between the cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) Taq1B gene polymorphism (rs708272) with risk factors of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, their findings were inconsistent. The present study investigated the relationship between CVD risk factors and the Taq1B variant in patients undergoing coronary angiography.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 476 patients aged 30-76 years old of both sexes from 2020-2021, in Yazd (Iran). The Taq1B polymorphism genotypes were evaluated using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) on DNA extracted from whole blood. Standard protocols were used to measure cardio-metabolic markers. To determine the association between CVDs risk factors and the rs708272 variant, binary logistic regression was used in crude and adjusted models.

Results

Taq1B polymorphism genotype frequencies were 10.7% for B1B1, 72.3% for B1B2, and 17% for B2B2. There was no significant association between abnormal levels of CVDs risk factors and different genotypes of the Taq1B variant, Gensini score (P=0.64), Syntax score (P=0.79), systolic blood pressure (P=0.55), diastolic blood pressure (P=0.58), and waist circumference (P=0.79). There was no significant association between genotypes of the rs708272 variant and any abnormal serum lipid levels. After adjusting for confounders, the results remained non-significant.

Conclusion

There was no significant association between CVDs risk factors and CETP rs708272 polymorphism. The relationship between CETP gene variants and CVD occurrences varied across groups, implying that more research in different regions is required.A preprint version of this manuscript is available at https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-2575215/v1 with doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2575215/v1.

Dietary antioxidant status indices may not interact with CETP Taq1B polymorphism on lipid profile and severity of coronary artery stenosis in patients under coronary angiography

The association of CETP Taq1B polymorphism with some metabolic traits is still controversial. The interaction of adherence to dietary indices with this polymorphism on the severity of coronary artery stenosis and serum lipid parameters needs to be investigated. This study aimed to test this hypothesis. This cross-sectional study included 453 patients who were referred from Afshar Hospital of Yazd and undergoing coronary angiography from 2020 to 2021. Dietary intake was evaluated by a 178-item validated and reliable dietary questionnaire. Dietary indices such as dietary antioxidant index (DAI), dietary antioxidant quality score (DAQS), and dietary phytochemical index (DPI) are determined according to dietary guidelines. The Taq1B variant was genotyped by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method (PCR-RFLP). Two-way ANOVA was used to test the interaction between Taq1B polymorphism and dietary indices. The results of the frequency analysis of Taq1B genotypes showed that 10.4% were B1B1, 72.4% B1B2, and 17.2% B2B2. No significant interaction was found between the Taq1B variant with high adherence to DAQS, DAI, and DPI on total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), triglyceride (TG) levels, and Gensini score (GS) and Syntax score (SS). In high-adherence dietary indices, lipid profile and coronary artery stenosis scores did not differ significantly in Taq1B genotypes. Due to the insignificant results in this research, further studies are needed to investigate the role of Taq1B SNP in modulating dyslipidemia and the severity of the CAD in interaction with dietary indices.

Interaction between CETP Taq1B polymorphism and dietary patterns on lipid profile and severity of coronary arteries stenosis in patients under coronary angiography: a cross-sectional study

AIM

Evidence indicates there are still conflicts regarding CETP Taq1B polymorphism and coronary artery disease risk factors. Current findings about whether dietary patterns can change the relationship of the Taq1B on lipid profile and the severity of coronary arteries stenosis appears to be limited. The present research made an attempt to investigate this possible relationship.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study involved 453 male and female participants with a mean age of 57 years. A validated 178-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to assess dietary usual intake. Dietary patterns were extracted through principal component analysis (PCA). Taq1B variant was genotyped by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Two-way ANOVA was used to test the interaction between Taq1B polymorphism and dietary patterns.

RESULTS

Two dietary patterns were detected: the western dietary pattern (WDP) and the traditional dietary pattern (TDP). The frequency of Taq1B genotypes turned out to be 10.4, 72.4, and 17.2% for B1B1, B1B2, and B2B2, respectively. A significant difference was observed in TG and TG/HDL-C levels among TaqIB genotypes in higher adherence to TDP (P = 0.01 and P = 0.03, respectively). Taq1B showed a significant interaction with TDP for modulating TG levels and TG/HDL-C ratio (P = 0.02 and P = 0.04, respectively). Greater compliance to WDP demonstrated a significant difference in TG and TG/HDL-C levels across rs708272 genotypes (P = 0.03) after adjusting for confounding factors. Other lipid components and coronary arteries stenosis scores failed to show any relationship or significant difference across Taq1B genotypes or dietary patterns.

CONCLUSION

Adherence to TDP may adjust the association between the Taq1B variant and TG and TG/HDL-C levels in patients undergoing coronary angiography. To better understand the relationships, we suggest prospective studies in different race groups with multivariate approaches.

A Nutrigenetic Update on CETP Gene–Diet Interactions on Lipid-Related Outcomes

Purpose of Review

An abnormal lipid profile is considered a main risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and evidence suggests that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) gene contribute to variations in lipid levels in response to dietary intake. The objective of this review was to identify and discuss nutrigenetic studies assessing the interactions between CETP SNPs and dietary factors on blood lipids.

Recent Findings

Relevant articles were obtained through a literature search of PubMed and Google Scholar through to July 2021. An article was included if it examined an interaction between CETP SNPs and dietary factors on blood lipids. From 49 eligible nutrigenetic studies, 27 studies reported significant interactions between 8 CETP SNPs and 17 dietary factors on blood lipids in 18 ethnicities. The discrepancies in the study findings could be attributed to genetic heterogeneity, and differences in sample size, study design, lifestyle and measurement of dietary intake. The most extensively studied ethnicities were those of Caucasian populations and majority of the studies reported an interaction with dietary fat intake. The rs708272 (TaqIB) was the most widely studied CETP SNP, where ‘B1’ allele was associated with higher CETP activity, resulting in lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and higher serum triglycerides under the influence of high dietary fat intake.

Summary

Overall, the findings suggest that CETP SNPs might alter blood lipid profiles by modifying responses to diet, but further large studies in multiple ethnic groups are warranted to identify individuals at risk of adverse lipid response to diet.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11883-022-00987-y.

Interaction between CETP polymorphism and dietary insulin index and load in relation to cardiovascular risk factors in diabetic adults

Gene-diet interactions may play an important role in the inter individual diversity observed in on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Therefore, in the current study, we examined the interaction of CETP TaqB1 polymorphism with dietary insulin index and load (DII and DIL), in altering on CVD risk factors among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In this cross-sectional study, blood samples were collected from 220 type 2 diabetic patients (134 females and 86 male) with a mean age of 52.24 years in Tehran, Iran. DIL and DII were obtained via validated food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Taq1B polymorphism was genotyped by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Biochemical markers including total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride (TG), superoxide dismutase (SOD), C-reactive protein (CRP), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), pentraxin-3 (PTX3), isoprostaneF2α (PGF2α). interleukin 18 (IL18), leptin and ghrelin were measured by standard protocol. Patients with B1B1 genotype had lower lipid profiles include LDL/HDL (P < 0.001) and TG (P = 0.04) when they consumed diets higher on the DIL and DII index. Moreover, carriers of B2B2 genotype who were in the last tertile of DIL had higher antioxidant and inflammatory markers include SOD (P = 0.01), PGF2α (P = 0.04) and CRP (P = 0.02). Further, a significant interaction between CETP TaqB1 and DII was shown in terms of WC (P = 0.01), where the highest WC were observed in B2B2 genotype carriers following a DII score. However, the highest inflammatory and antioxidant markers include CRP (P = 0.04), TAC (P = 0.01), SOD (P = 0.02), and PGF2α (P = 0.02) were observed in B2B2 genotype carriers when they consumed diets higher on the DII index. Based on the current study, it could be proposed that CETP polymorphism may be associated with CVD risk factors in T2DM patients with high following insulin indices, including DII and DIL. It seems that CETP Taq1B polymorphism can invert the result produced by insulin. This conclusion illustrates that the CETP Taq1B B1 allele could counteract the CVD risk induced by high DII and DIL.

The combined effects of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) TaqIB gene polymorphism and canola, sesame and sesame-canola oils consumption on metabolic response in patients with diabetes and healthy people

Introduction: Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) is a key regulating enzyme in the lipid metabolism pathway, and its gene polymorphism may be a candidate for modulating the metabolic responses to dietary intervention. We thus examined whether the effects of the CETP TaqIB polymorphism on metabolic profiles were modified by dietary plant oils.

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of data collected during a randomized triple-blind cross over trial. A total of 95 patients with type 2 diabetes and 73 non-diabetes individuals completed a 9-weekof the intake of sesame, canola and sesame-canola oils. Blood samples were collected at the beginning and at the end of each intervention period for biochemical analysis. Genotyping was done using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method.

Results: In diabetes patients, B1B1 homozygotes of the CETP TaqIB polymorphism compared with B2 carriers (B1B2 + B2B2) had significantly lower diastolic blood pressure, apoB and apoB: apoA-1,and higher Lp(a) after the intake of sesame-canola oil, as well as lower insulin and HOMA-IR after the intake of sesame oil. There was also a significant effect of genotype on adjusted changes of apoB, apoB: apoA-1, insulin, HOMA-IR and QUICKI. A significant genotype-dietary oils combined effects were observed for diastolic blood pressure, and LDL: HDL, TC: HDL and TG: HDL ratios in diabetes patients. No independent or combined effects of dietary oils and genotypes on outcomes were found in healthy people.

Conclusion: There was a modulatory effect of the CETP TaqIB polymorphism on some metabolic traits in response to plant oils in patients with diabetes. Taken together, the intake of sesame-canola and canola oils showed more favorable effects in diabetes patients with B1B1 genotype. Future investigations are needed to confirm these results.

Deciphering the Riddles in Nutrition and Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease is the leading global cause of death in Western countries, and its development is largely associated with unhealthy dietary patterns. A large body of scientific evidence has reported that nutrition might be the most preventive factor of cardiovascular disease death and could even reverse heart disease. Processes of chronic inflammation and oxidative distress share triggers that are modifiable by nutrition. This review aimed to identify potential targets (food patterns, single foods or individual nutrients) for cardiovascular disease prevention, and analyse the mechanisms implicated in their cardioprotective effects.

Cholesteryl ester transfer protein: the physiological and molecular characteristics in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease

Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) is involved in reverse cholesterol transport, mediates the exchange of cholesteryl esters for triglycerides between high-density lipoproteinsand low-density lipoproteins/very low-density lipoproteins. Lipid transfer mechanism by CETP is unknown. Two main models have been proposed for the mechanism of action of CETP: shuttle and tunnel mechanisms. The variants of CETP gene affect activity and level of protein, thus they are associated with lipid profile and risk of many diseases. Some clinical studies reported that polymorphisms of CETP, including TaqIB and I405V, are associated with risk of atherosclerosis and/or Alzheimer’s disease. CETP plays important role an in the metabolism of cholesterol, thus is correlated with pathomechanism of coronary artery disease. Inhibition of CETP can be an effective strategy to improve the lipid profile and reduce risk of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, new therapeutic strategies to reduce activity of CETP or decrease its level are developed. Effectiveness of following pharmacological methods of modulation of CETP activity was studied: anti-CETP vaccines, antisense oligonucleotide and small molecule inhibitors of CETP. This article presents an overview of the literature on the correlation between cardiovascular diseases and CETP protein/CETP gene. Furthermore, it discusses the impact of CETP on pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease.

Nutrition and Cardiovascular Health

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in Western countries, representing almost 30% of all deaths worldwide. Evidence shows the effectiveness of healthy dietary patterns and lifestyles for the prevention of CVD. Furthermore, the rising incidence of CVD over the last 25 years has become a public health priority, especially the prevention of CVD (or cardiovascular events) through lifestyle interventions. Current scientific evidence shows that Western dietary patterns compared to healthier dietary patterns, such as the ‘Mediterranean diet’ (MeDiet), leads to an excessive production of proinflammatory cytokines associated with a reduced synthesis of anti-inflammatory cytokines. In fact, dietary intervention allows better combination of multiple foods and nutrients. Therefore, a healthy dietary pattern shows a greater magnitude of beneficial effects than the potential effects of a single nutrient supplementation. This review aims to identify potential targets (food patterns, single foods, or individual nutrients) for preventing CVD and quantifies the magnitude of the beneficial effects observed. On the other hand, we analyze the possible mechanisms implicated in this cardioprotective effect.

Genetic variations of cholesteryl ester transfer protein and diet interactions in relation to lipid profiles and coronary heart disease: a systematic review

Data on diet–genotype interactions in the prevention or treatment of dyslipidemia have increased remarkably. This systematic review aimed to assess nutrigenetic studies regarding the modulating effect of diet on cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) polymorphisms in relation to metabolic traits.

Data were collected through studies published between 2000 and SEP. 2016 using five electronic databases. The quality of eligible studies was assessed using a 12-item quality checklist, derived from the STrengthening the REporting of Genetic Association Studies (STREGA) statement. CETP variants that had associations with lipid profiles in previous studies were extracted for drawing of the linkage disequilibrium (LD) plot.

Among CETP variants, the rs9989419 best represented this genome wide association signal across all populations, based on LD r² estimates from 1000 genomes references. In the 23 found eligible studies (clinical trials and observational), the TaqIB and I405V polymorphisms were the two most intensively studied. Two studies reported the effect of interaction between rs3764261 and diet on lipid levels. Regarding the rs708272 (Taq1B), individuals with the B1 risk allele showed better responses to dietary interventions than those with B2B2 genotype, whereas with I405V, inconsistent results have been reported. Modest alcohol consumption was associated with decreased risk of coronary heart disease among B2 carriers of rs708272.

It is concluded that variations in the CETP gene may modulate the effects of dietary components on metabolic traits. These results have been controversial, indicating complex polygenic factors in metabolic response to diet and lack of uniformity in the study conditions and designs.

Impact of variants in CETP and apo AI genes on serum HDL cholesterol levels in men and women from the Polish population

INTRODUCTION

Polymorphisms in the cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) gene and apolipoprotein AI (apo AI) gene are identified as the most common genetic factors influencing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL cholesterol) levels. Low HDL cholesterol is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. We investigated the effect of the TaqIB polymorphism of the CETP gene and the 75G/A polymorphism of the apo AI gene on the HDL cholesterol concentration in a sample of Polish adults.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 621 subjects, 414 women and 207 men, were included in this study. Lipid levels were measured using standard protocols, and apolipoprotein AI was determined by immunoturbidimetric assay. CETP and apo AI genotyping was performed using a restriction fragment length polymorphism based method.

RESULTS

Significantly lower HDL cholesterol concentrations were found in B1B1 homozygotes than in carriers of the B2 allele of the TaqIB polymorphism in the CETP gene among both men and women. In GG homozygotes of the 75G/A polymorphism in the apo AI gene lower HDL cholesterol levels were observed, but the difference did not reach statistical significance. A statistically significant association of low HDL cholesterol (< 25th percentile) with CETP genotypes was found in women (p < 0.0001) and in men (p = 0.0368).

CONCLUSIONS

These data demonstrate a significant impact of the TaqIB polymorphism in the CETP gene on HDL cholesterol levels in the studied Polish population, while the effect of the 75G/A polymorphism in the apo AI gene appears not to be significant.

Advances in Integrating Traditional and Omic Biomarkers When Analyzing the Effects of the Mediterranean Diet Intervention in Cardiovascular Prevention

Intervention with Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) has provided a high level of evidence in primary prevention of cardiovascular events. Besides enhancing protection from classical risk factors, an improvement has also been described in a number of non-classical ones. Benefits have been reported on biomarkers of oxidation, inflammation, cellular adhesion, adipokine production, and pro-thrombotic state. Although the benefits of the MedDiet have been attributed to its richness in antioxidants, the mechanisms by which it exercises its beneficial effects are not well known. It is thought that the integration of omics including genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, and metabolomics, into studies analyzing nutrition and cardiovascular diseases will provide new clues regarding these mechanisms. However, omics integration is still in its infancy. Currently, some single-omics analyses have provided valuable data, mostly in the field of genomics. Thus, several gene-diet interactions in determining both intermediate (plasma lipids, etc.) and final cardiovascular phenotypes (stroke, myocardial infarction, etc.) have been reported. However, few studies have analyzed changes in gene expression and, moreover very few have focused on epigenomic or metabolomic biomarkers related to the MedDiet. Nevertheless, these preliminary results can help to better understand the inter-individual differences in cardiovascular risk and dietary response for further applications in personalized nutrition.

MicroRNAs and Drinking: Association between the Pre-miR-27a rs895819 Polymorphism and Alcohol Consumption in a Mediterranean Population

Recently, microRNAs (miRNA) have been proposed as regulators in the different processes involved in alcohol intake, and differences have been found in the miRNA expression profile in alcoholics. However, no study has focused on analyzing polymorphisms in genes encoding miRNAs and daily alcohol consumption at the population level. Our aim was to investigate the association between a functional polymorphism in the pre-miR-27a (rs895819 A>G) gene and alcohol consumption in an elderly population. We undertook a cross-sectional study of PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED)-Valencia participants (n = 1007, including men and women aged 67 ± 7 years) and measured their alcohol consumption (total and alcoholic beverages) through a validated questionnaire. We found a strong association between the pre-miR-27a polymorphism and total alcohol intake, this being higher in GG subjects (5.2 ± 0.4 in AA, 5.9 ± 0.5 in AG and 9.1 ± 1.8 g/day in GG; padjusted = 0.019). We also found a statistically-significant association of the pre-miR-27a polymorphism with the risk of having a high alcohol intake (>2 drinks/day in men and >1 in women): 5.9% in AA versus 17.5% in GG; padjusted < 0.001. In the sensitivity analysis, this association was homogeneous for sex, obesity and Mediterranean diet adherence. In conclusion, we report for the first time a significant association between a miRNA polymorphism (rs895819) and daily alcohol consumption.

CETP genotype and changes in lipid levels in response to weight-loss diet intervention in the POUNDS LOST and DIRECT randomized trials

Little is known about whether cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) genetic variation may modify the effect of weight-loss diets varying in fat content on changes in lipid levels. We analyzed the interaction between the CETP variant rs3764261 and dietary interventions on changes in lipid levels among 732 overweight/obese adults from a 2 year randomized weight-loss trial [Preventing Overweight Using Novel Dietary Strategies (POUNDS LOST)], and replicated the findings in 171 overweight/obese adults from an independent 2 year weight-loss trial [Dietary Intervention Randomized Controlled Trial (DIRECT)]. In the POUNDS LOST, participants with the CETP rs3764261 CC genotype on the high-fat diet had larger increases in HDL cholesterol (P = 0.001) and decreases in triglycerides (P = 0.007) than those on the low-fat diet at 6 months, while no significant difference between these two diets was observed among participants carrying other genotypes. The gene-diet interactions on changes in HDL-cholesterol and tri-glyc-erides were replicated in the DIRECT (pooled P for interaction ≤ 0.01). Similar results on trajectory of changes in HDL cholesterol and triglycerides over the 2 year intervention were observed in both trials. Our study provides replicable evidence that individuals with the CETP rs3764261 CC genotype might derive greater effects on raising HDL cholesterol and lowering triglycerides by choosing a low-carbohydrate/high-fat weight-loss diet instead of a low-fat diet.

Mediterranean diet and cardiovascular health: Teachings of the PREDIMED study

The PREDIMED (Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea) study was designed to assess the long-term effects of the Mediterranean diet (MeDiet) without any energy restriction on incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) as a multicenter, randomized, primary prevention trial in individuals at high risk. Participants were randomly assigned to 3 diet groups: 1) MeDiet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO); 2) MeDiet supplemented with nuts; and 3) control diet (advice on a low-fat diet). After 4.8 y, 288 major CVD events occurred in 7447 participants; crude hazard ratios were 0.70 (95% CI: 0.53, 0.91) for the MeDiet + EVOO and 0.70 (95% CI: 0.53, 0.94) for the MeDiet + nuts compared with the control group. Respective hazard ratios for incident diabetes (273 cases) among 3541 participants without diabetes were 0.60 (95% CI: 0.43, 0.85) and 0.82 (95% CI: 0.61, 1.10) compared with the control group. After 1-y follow-up, participants in the MeDiet + nuts group showed a significant 13.7% reduction in prevalence of metabolic syndrome compared with reductions of 6.7% and 2.0% in the MeDiet + EVOO and control groups, respectively. Analyses of intermediate markers of cardiovascular risk demonstrated beneficial effects of the MeDiets on blood pressure, lipid profiles, lipoprotein particles, inflammation, oxidative stress, and carotid atherosclerosis, as well as on the expression of proatherogenic genes involved in vascular events and thrombosis. Nutritional genomics studies demonstrated interactions between a MeDiet and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), apolipoprotein A2 (APOA2), cholesteryl ester transfer protein plasma (CETP), and transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) gene polymorphisms. The PREDIMED study results demonstrate that a high-unsaturated fat and antioxidant-rich dietary pattern such as the MeDiet is a useful tool in the prevention of CVD.

A review on the genetic, environmental, and lifestyle aspects of the early-life origins of cardiovascular disease

This article is a comprehensive review on developmental origins of health and disease regarding various factors related to the origins of cardiovascular diseases from early life. It presents a summary of the impacts of various factors such as epigenetics; gene-environment interaction; ethnic predisposition to cardiovascular diseases and their underlying risk factors; prenatal factors; fetal programming; maternal weight status and weight gain during pregnancy; type of feeding during infancy; growth pattern during childhood; obesity; stunting; socioeconomic status; dietary and physical activity habits; active, secondhand, and thirdhand smoking, as well as environmental factors including air pollution and global climate change on the development and progress of cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors. The importance of early identification of predisposing factors for cardiovascular diseases for primordial and primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases from early life is highlighted.

Omega-3 fatty acids, polymorphisms and lipid related cardiovascular disease risk factors in the Inuit population

Background

Tissue concentrations of fatty acids (FAs) and genetic variations are well-known factors which affect the cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. The objective was to examine whether the genetic variability of 20 candidate genes and red blood cells (RBCs) percentage of total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), a biomarker of dietary n-3 PUFA intake, modulate lipid related CVD risk factors in the Inuit population.

Methods

Data from the Qanuippitaa Nunavik Health Survey (n = 553) were analysed via multivariate regression models with 40 known polymorphisms, RBCs percentage of n-3 PUFA, and the interaction term to take into account the effect on plasma lipid and apolipoporotein levels.

Results

Individuals being heterozygotes for CETP C-4502T (rs183130) or G-971A (rs4783961) together with higher n-3 PUFA had lower triacylglycerol (TG) concentrations compared to homozygotes for the minor allele. Further, effects of a stronger beneficial association between n-3 PUFA in RBCs and plasma lipid parameters- including lower total cholesterol (TC), lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) or higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations- were associated with AGT M235T (rs699) TT genotype, CETP G-971A (rs4783961) AG genotype, T allele carriers of CETP C-4502T (rs183130), and T allele carriers of CETP Ile405Val (rs5882). In contrast, higher n-3 PUFA in RBCs were associated with adverse lipid profiles- including increased LDL-C, increased apolipoprotein B100 or decreased HDL-C concentrations- in G allele carriers of the APOA5 -3 A/G (rs651821), C allele carriers of APOA5 T-1131C (rs662799), G carriers of APOC3 SstI (rs5128) and G carriers of APOA4 Asn147Ser (rs5104).

Conclusion

Overall, these results suggest that percentage of total n-3 PUFA of RBCs are associated with lipids related CVD risk factors conferred by genetic variations in the Inuit population.

Alcohol intake

Alcohol consumption and its association with health or illness states are of great interest from the nutritional genomics point of view. This interest is centered not only on investigating the genetic variants that can modulate the effects of alcoholic beverages on different intermediate and final disease phenotypes (mainly cardiovascular diseases and cancer), but also on finding out how the genome influences the amount of alcohol consumed and consumption habits. This chapter reviews the latest findings on alcohol consumption trends, the methodological limitations in the analysis of alcohol consumption, and the main genes and polymorphisms related to alcohol intake, including the inconsistent results from genome-wide association studies (GWASs). It also reviews the effects of alcohol consumption on cardiovascular diseases and cancer and the studies analyzing the interactions between different genetic polymorphisms and alcohol in phenotypes related to these diseases, discussing the studies' advantages and limitations as well as future research perspectives.