Associations of estrogen receptor alpha and Beta gene polymorphisms with lipid levels and insulin resistance in men.

OBJECTIVE: The association of four single nucleotide polymorphisms in estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) and beta (ESR2) genes with lipid levels and insulin resistance in men. DESIGN AND METHODS: Lipids, glucose, insulin and HOMA-IR were determined, in a population-based, cross-sectional, cohort of 170 apparently healthy middle-aged Greek men, along with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and percentage of body fat content (%fat). Genotyping of ESR1 for PvuII and XbaI and ESR2 for RsaI and AluI polymorphisms was performed. RESULTS: Associations of AluI with LDL-Chol (mean ± SD, aa 4.3 ± 1.1 vs. Aa 3.7 ± 1.0 and ΑΑ 4.2 ± 1.1, p = 0.023) and RsaI with HOMA-IR [median (IQR), RR 1.55 (0.88-2.49) vs. Rr/rr 1.69 (0.72-2.29), p = 0.032] were found. Synergistic effects of RsaI and AluI of ESR2 gene on LDL-Chol levels, %fat and WC, as well as a synergistic effect of both ESR1 and ESR2 genes on levels of TChol (p = 0.01) and LDL-Chol (p = 0.027) were also shown. These findings remained significant after adjustment for potential confounders. Significant independent associations of PvuII with %fat (mean ± SD, pp 24.6 ± 5.3 vs Pp 22.4 ± 5.2 and PP 21.2 ± 6.7, p = 0.044), and RsaI with %fat (RR 22.6 ± 5.5 vs. Rr/rr 25.2 ± 6.3, p = 0.015) and WC (mean ± SD, RR 97.4 ± 10.4 vs. Rr/rr 102.6 ± 12.6, p = 0.013) were found. Synergistic effects on %fat, between the ESR1 polymorphisms (p = 0.004), between the ESR2 polymorphisms and among all four ESR polymorphisms studied were also present. CONCLUSIONS: ESR2 is associated with LDL-Chol levels and HOMA-IR in men independently of confounders. Body fat is affected by both genes. Furthermore, a synergistic effect of ESR1 and ESR2 on TChol, LDL-Chol and %fat, was shown.

High rates of obesity prevalence in adults living in central Greece: data from the ARGOS study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of obesity in adults of a large region of Central Greece. DESIGN: The target group was adults aged 18 to 79 years who were residents of the region of Thessaly for at least one year. A sample of 852 individuals stratified for sex and age were included. Each subject underwent a thorough physical examination and body mass index (BMI) was calculated from body weight and height. Waist and hip circumferences as well as body fat content were additionally measured. RESULTS: Mean (SD) BMI for the total population was 27.5+/-5.5 and was significantly higher in males than in females (28.2+/-4.4 vs. 26.9+/-6.2, p<0.001). The overall prevalence of obesity was 26.6% distributed equally between men (27.8%) and women (25.6%), whereas prevalence of overweight was 39.4% with male predominance (50.8% vs. 29.3%, p<0.001). Morbid obesity (MO) was found in 3.5% with female predominance. The prevalence of central obesity, using waist circumference cut-off points (>102cm for men, >88cm for women), was comparable in males (40.4%) and females (35.3%). There was a positive association between obesity, central obesity, and age. The prevalence of overweight (19.5%) and obesity (9.4%) in the age-range of 18-29 years almost doubled in the next decade of age and attained the highest value, respectively, in the age-range of 50 to 59 (48.2%), and of 60 to 70 years group (38.9%). CONCLUSIONS: The rates of overweight and obesity in the population of Thessaly are relatively high with overweight being more prominent in males than in females, whereas MO was higher in females compared to males.

AR CAG repeat length is not associated with serum gonadal steroids and lipid levels in healthy men.

Cardiovascular risk factors seem to be affected by androgens, which exert their action through the androgen receptor (AR). Androgenic action correlates inversely with a polymorphic CAG repeat region in the AR gene encoding for glutamine residues the length of which appears to influence high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. The aim of the study was to investigate the possible association between AR gene polymorphism and serum sex steroids and lipids. 170 healthy males, aged 22-59 years (mean 42 years), were included in the study. Anthropometrical as well as sociometrical parameters were recorded. Body fat content (BFC) (% fat mass) was measured by bioelectrical impedance. Serum lipids and total and free testosterone (T) and estradiol (E(2)) levels were measured in each subject. AR gene CAG repeats length was determined. No significant correlation was found between the length of AR gene polyglutamine tract and the levels of gonadal steroids (total and free T, total and free E(2)) or to the lipid levels (Triglycerides, total, HDL and LDL cholesterol). In addition, serum lipid levels were not significantly different in the lower compared to higher half of CAG repeats length distribution. On multiple regression analysis BFC was found to predict HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides were found to show, respectively, significant negative and positive correlation with body fat content. In conclusion, AR gene polymorphism may not predict sex steroid levels in healthy males. Possible impact of CAG repeats length on lipids profile has not been established.

Lower prevalence of epsilon 4 allele of apolipoprotein E gene in healthy, longer-lived individuals of Hellenic origin.

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE), and especially its epsilon4 isoform, is considered a risk factor predisposing to coronary heart disease. We hypothesized that the absence of epsilon4 allele offers a better chance for longer life. So we compared the prevalence of ApoE genotypes in 80 healthy aged individuals (HAI) (>80 years) and 391 Greek adults (median age 43 years) with ApoE genotype distribution consistent with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (chi(2) = 5.93, p >.05). ApoE genotypes were comparable in both groups with the exception of E3/3 and E3/4, which were significantly higher (87.50% vs 75.99%, p =.025) and lower (5.00% vs 13.19%, p =.036), respectively, in HAI. The epsilon2 and epsilon3 allele frequencies were not different between the groups. The epsilon4 allele was significantly less frequent in HAI compared to controls (3.1% vs 8.58%, p =.020). Our results indicate an unfavorable effect of epsilon4 allele on longevity that may be attenuated by environmental and/or other genetic factors.