Role of rs670 variant of APOA1 gene on lipid profile, insulin resistance and adipokine levels in obese subjects after weight loss with a dietary intervention

The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of rs670 APOA1 gene polymorphism on obesity parameters, lipid profile, glucose metabolism markers, blood pressure and adipokine levels after a hypocaloric diet with Mediterranean pattern. A population of 82 obese patients was studied before and after 12 weeks on a hypocaloric diet (500 kcal per day) in an interventional study of one arm. GG and GA + AA subjects receiving the same diet. Anthropometric measures and biochemical parameters (lipid profile, glucose metabolism, blood pressure and adipokine levels) were measured. Genotype of ApoA1 gene polymorphism (rs670) was evaluated. The A allele is the risk allele. After dietary intervention and in both genotype groups (GG vs. GA + AA), body mass index (BMI) (delta: −1.0 ± 0.8 kg/m2 vs. −1.4 ± 1.0 kg/m2: p = 0.02), weight (delta: −2.6 ± 2.1 kg vs. −3.6 ± 2.2 kg: p = 0.03), fat mass (delta: −1.6 ± 1.1 kg vs. −3.2 ± 1.0 kg: p = 0.01) and waist circumference (delta: −1.8 ± 0.6 cm vs. −2.2 ± 1.1 cm: p = 0.02) decreased. The decrease of the anthropometric parameters was higher in A allele carriers than non-A allele carriers. In A allele carriers, total cholesterol (delta: −11.1 ± 7.1 mg/dl vs. −20.1 ± 9.0 mg/dl: p = 0.02), LDL cholesterol (delta: −10.7 ± 4.1 mg/dl vs. −21.2 ± 8.0 mg/dl: p = 0.01), insulin levels (delta: −0.6 ± 0.8 UI/L vs. 3.7 ± 1.1 UI/L; p = 0.002) and insulin resistance with HOMA-IR (delta: −0.2 ± 0.3 units vs. 0.8 ± 0.4 units; p = 0.01) decreased. The improvement of leptin was similar in both genotype groups. Resistin and adiponectin levels remained unchanged after dietary intervention. In this study the APOA1 (rs670) gene showed important effects on body weight, adiposity, LDL-cholesterol levels and insulin resistance after 12 weeks of the dietary intervention.