Apolipoprotein-E genotype distribution in consecutive Trinidadian newborns of African and Indian descent: comparisons with other populations and relations of the apolipoprotein-E genotype with plasma lipid indices

ABSTRACT

Trinidadian Indians and Africans have different coronary artery disease (CAD) incidences. We determined apolipoprotein-E (apo-E) genotypes, and umbilical plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, apo-A1, apo-B and lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a) in 294 consecutive newborns in Trinidad. We calculate the apo-B/apo-A1 ratio and an adapted "lipid tetrad index" (i.e cholesterol*triglycerides*Lp(a)/apo-A1). Apo-E genotype distributions of Trinidadian Africans (allele frequencies apo-e2e3e4=10.466.423.2 percent) and Indians(e2e3e4=3.583.113.4 percent) were different. The apo-E genotype distribution of Trinidadian Africans resembles to a certain extent that of their counterpart in Curacao and Sudan, but not that of cuonterparts in Nigeria and the USA.(AU)