The relationship between apolipoprotein E polymorphism, lipoprotein (a) and fatty liver disease

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The apolipoprotein E (apo E) gene is known to affect plasma lipoprotein-lipid levels, and lipoprotein (a) Lp(a)] is an atherogenic lipoprotein that is negatively correlated with triglyceride level. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the apo E genotype, plasma Lp(a) level, and fatty liver. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was performed on 711 subjects who were diagnosed as having fatty liver by ultrasonography and on 711 sex- and age-matched control subjects. Apo E genotype, plasma Lp(a) concentrations, and serum levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, and HDL-cholesterol were measured. RESULTS: Fatty liver subjects were found to have significantly higher triglyceride, and lower HDL-cholesterol levels. According to the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the odds ratios for fatty liver were 2.254 (95% CI 1.697-2.993) for hypertriglyceridemia, 1.841 (95% CI 1.449-2.339) for a high LDL-cholesterol level, 1.509 (95% CI 1.112-2.046) for a low HDL-cholesterol level, and 0.364 (95% CI 0.194-0.684) for a high HDL-cholesterol level. The odds ratios of epsilon4 and a high plasma Lp(a) level for fatty liver were 0.631 (95% CI 0.468-0.850) and 0.607 (95% CI 0.470-0.784) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the epsilon4 allele of apo E and plasma Lp(a) concentration may be associated with the pathogenesis of fatty liver.