Biological variations and genetic reference values for apolipoprotein E serum concentrations: results from the STANISLAS cohort study

Serum apolipoprotein (apo) E concentrations were determined by immunoturbidimetry in 4284 subjects from 4 to 71 years of age and belonging to 1003 nuclear families recruited for the STANISLAS cohort study between January 1994 and August 1995. Values for apo E ranged from 16 to 169 mg/L, with a geometric mean +/- SD values of 46.6 +/- 13.8 mg/L in the overall sample. The interindividual variability varied from 24.6% to 32.0% among family members. Females exhibited higher apo E values than males until the age of 17-26 years. Conversely, after the age of 26 years, serum apo E concentrations were higher in men than in women. Biological factors affecting serum apo E concentrations were described in fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters and explained up to 32.0% of the apo E variability in daughters and 19.0% in fathers. The main biological factors affecting apo E concentrations were the following: apo E polymorphism, waist-to-hip ratio, oral contraceptive intake, puberty, body mass index, age, and gender. Given the importance of apo E polymorphism in the regulation of apo E concentrations, we recommend the use of genetic-based reference values for the clinical interpretation of serum apo E concentrations.