Ethnic differences in the association between lipid metabolism genes and lipid levels in black and white South African women

Abstract Objective Dyslipidaemia can lead to the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD), however its prevalence has been shown to differ between ethnic groups in South Africa (SA). Therefore the aim of this study was to investigate ethnic differences in the association between serum lipid levels and polymorphisms within genes involved in lipid metabolism in black and white SA women. Methods In a convenient sample of 234 white and 209 black SA women of Xhosa ancestry, body composition (DXA) and fasting serum lipids were measured. Participants were genotyped for the cholesteryl ester transfer protein ( CETP , rs708272, B1/B2), lipoprotein lipase ( LPL , rs328, S/X), hepatic lipase ( LIPC , rs1800588, C/T) and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 ( PCSK9 , rs28362286, C/X) polymorphisms. Results Compared to white women, black women had lower concentrations of serum total cholesterol (TC, P