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n-3 Fatty acids are associated with better cardiovascular and cognitive health. However, the concentration of EPA, DPA and DHA in different plasma lipid pools differs and factors influencing this heterogeneity are poorly understood. Our aim was to evaluate the association of oily fish intake, sex, age, BMI and APOE genotype with concentrations of EPA, DPA and DHA in plasma phosphatidylcholine (PC), NEFA, cholesteryl esters (CE) and TAG. Healthy adults (148 male, 158 female, age 20-71 years) were recruited according to APOE genotype, sex and age. The fatty acid composition was determined by GC. Oily fish intake was positively associated with EPA in PC, CE and TAG, DPA in TAG, and DHA in all fractions (P≤0·008). There was a positive association between age and EPA in PC, CE and TAG, DPA in NEFA and CE, and DHA in PC and CE (P≤0·034). DPA was higher in TAG in males than females (P<0·001). There was a positive association between BMI and DPA and DHA in TAG (P<0·006 and 0·02, respectively). APOE genotype×sex interactions were observed: the APOE4 allele associated with higher EPA in males (P=0·002), and there was also evidence for higher DPA and DHA (P≤0·032). In conclusion, EPA, DPA and DHA in plasma lipids are associated with oily fish intake, sex, age, BMI and APOE genotype. Such insights may be used to better understand the link between plasma fatty acid profiles and dietary exposure and may influence intake recommendations across population subgroups.

Here the impact of APOE genotype on CHD risk in UK adults is reported, along with an analysis of APOE genotype × BMI/age/sex interactions. APOE genotype had a significant impact on fasting total:LDL-cholesterol (TC:LDL-C) ratio, triglycerides, % HDL3, and the Framingham 10-year CVD risk score (P<0.05), with an overall trend towards lower and higher risk in E2- and E4-carriers, respectively, relative to the wild-type E3/E3 genotype. A greater impact of genotype on TC:HDL-C was observed in females, which explained 16% of the variability in this outcome versus 6% in males. APOE genotype was also associated with plasma C-reactive protein and adhesion molecule concentrations (P<0.05), with significant genotype × BMI interactions observed. Our observations indicate that the association between the APOE genotype and CHD risk is unlikely to be homogenous and highlights the risk of inaccurate estimations of genotype-phenotype associations in population subgroups without appropriate stratification for sex and adiposity., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Scope: Paraoxonase-1 (PON-1), associated with HDL, is regarded as anti-atherogenic, attributed to its ability to hydrolyze oxidized lipids. Here, the impact of PON and apolipoprotein E genotypes, age, alcohol and HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) on PON activity is examined., Methods and Results: In total, 104 healthy UK adults participated in the study, with basal (PONA) and stimulated (PONB) PON-1 activities and arylesterase activity determined in these individuals. In univariate and correlation analysis age, HDL-C, alcohol intake and both PON genotypes were significantly associated with PONA and PONB activities (p<0.05). However, in the standard linear regression model, which explained 69% of the variability in both PONA (p<0.001) and PONB activities (p<0.001) only PON Q192R genotype emerged as a significant independent determinant, with four to fivefold higher levels in the RR versus wild-type QQ genotype groups. For PON arylesterase, HDL-C (p=0.030), apolipoprotein E (p=0.023) and PON Q192R (p=0.002) and PON L55M (p=0.002) genotypes collectively explained 14% of the total variability in the regression model., Conclusion: Our results indicate that PON genotypes are stronger determinants of PON activity relative to the other potential modulators assessed. The relative impact of dietary components on PON activities remains to be established., (Copyright © 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)