The relationship of sterol regulatory element–binding protein cleavage–activation protein and apolipoprotein E gene polymorphisms with metabolic changes during weight reduction

Abstract Sterol regulatory element–binding protein cleavage–activating protein (SCAP) and apolipoprotein E (apo E) regulate cellular and plasma lipid metabolism. Therefore, variations in the corresponding genes might influence weight reduction and obesity-associated metabolic changes. We investigated the relationships of SCAP (Ile796Val) and apo E polymorphisms on metabolic changes during weight reduction by using a 12-week very low-energy diet. Body composition, serum lipids, plasma glucose, and insulin were assessed in 78 healthy premenopausal women (initial body mass index, 34 ± 4 kg/m2 ; age, 40 ± 4 years) before and after the intervention. The SCAP genotype groups did not differ in the responses of any parameters measured during weight reduction. Apo E did not differentiate the weight loss, but the changes in total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol for the genotype groups apo E ε 2/3, ε 3/3, as well as ε 3/4 and ε 4/4 combined were −0.94 ± 0.56 and −0.59 ± 0.32, −0.71 ± 0.49 and −0.49 ± 0.45, and −0.55 ± 0.47 and −0.37 ± 0.39 mmol/L, respectively ( P < .05 for both). In conclusion, neither the SCAP Ile796Val nor the apo E polymorphism was associated with weight loss in obese premenopausal women. However, the apo E—but not SCAP genotype—seems to be one of the modifying factors for serum cholesterol concentrations during very low-energy diet in obese premenopausal women.