Response of serum LDL cholesterol to oatmeal consumption depends on CYP7A1_rs3808607 genotype in Chinese.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Notable inter-individual differences in cholesterol-lowering effects following oatmeal consumption have been previously reported. Genetic variations may among the reasons for the heterogeneous response to lipid modulations. And to determine whether SNP of cytochrome P450 family 7 subfamily A member 1 gene rs3808607 and isoforms of apolipoprotein E are associated with the inter-individual variations in cholesterol-lowering effects of oatmeal consumption, we did this study. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: Data in this study were extracted from a parallel, controlled trial, in which 62 medication-naive hypercholesterolemic patients provided with staple food substitute of either 80 g/d oatmeal (n=31) or 80 g/d refined white rice (n=31) for 45 days. Fasting blood samples were collected at baseline and endpoint of the study for lipid profiling, glycemic testing, and genotyping. RESULTS: Totally, 56 of 62 participants completed the study and were thus included. Genotype- diet interactions were observed between oatmeal consumption and SNP in the cytochrome P450 family 7 subfamily A member 1 gene rs3808607 in regulating LDL cholesterol (p=0.04); rs3808607-TT homozygotes exhibited significantly higher responsiveness to oatmeal (reduction in LDL cholesterol) than G allele carriers (GG/GT) (p=0.02). However, obvious genotype-diet interactions were not observed between oatmeal consumption and apolipoprotein E isoforms in cholesterol and glycemic modulation (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: SNP in cytochrome P450 family 7 subfamily A member 1 gene rs3808607 was associated with the extent of LDL cholesterol reduction following oatmeal consumption. Trials with larger sample sizes are required to confirm the findings.