The APOA4 Thr sub(347) arrow right Ser sub(347) Polymorphism Is Not a Major Risk Factor of Obesity

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to assess the association between the APOA4 Thr sub(347) arrow right Ser sub(347) polymorphism and BMI and obesity. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Men and women (n = 3320), randomly recruited in three independent population surveys from the north, east, and south of France, were genotyped for the APOA4 Thr sub(347) arrow right Ser sub(347) polymorphism. RESULTS: There were 1327 overweight (825 men, 502 women) and 611 obese (313 men, 298 women) subjects. The prevalences of subjects carrying at least one Ser sub(347) allele (*/Ser sub(347)) were 36.5%, 33.8%, and 34.3% in controls, overweight, and obese subjects, respectively (not significant), and those of the Ser sub(347)/Ser sub(347) genotype were 4.5%, 3.0%, and 2.2%, respectively (not significant). In both men and women, mean BMI and body weight were not significantly different among APOA4 genotypes. There was no evidence of heterogeneity among centers, smoking status, alcohol intake, physical activity, and educational level categories. In men, mean waist girth was lower in Ser sub(347)/Ser sub(347) (92.2 plus or minus 9.4 cm) than in Thr sub(347) carriers (95.9 plus or minus 10.9 cm; p = 0.01), and plasma triglycerides levels were lower in Ser sub(347) (1.41 plus or minus 1.04 mM) than in Thr sub(347)/Thr sub(347) carriers (1.55 plus or minus 1.23 mM; p = 0.01). DISCUSSION: These results suggest that the APOA4 347Ser allele is not a major risk factor for obesity or overweight.