Gene Polymorphisms of <i>FABP2</i>, <i>ADIPOQ</i> and <i>ANP</i> and Risk of Hypertriglyceridemia and Metabolic Syndrome in Afro-Caribbeans

<div><p>Objectives</p><p>The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities and cardiovascular risk factors that are highly heritable and polygenic. We investigated the association of allelic variants of three candidate genes, rs1799883-<i>FABP2</i>, rs1501299-<i>ADIPOQ</i> and rs5065-<i>ANP</i> with MetS and its components, individually and in combination, using a genetic risk score.</p><p>Methods</p><p>A cross-sectional study was conducted in 462 Afro-Caribbeans subjects without cardiovascular complications or lipid-lowering medications. Cardiovascular risk factors and MetS components (NCEP-ATPIII criteria) were recorded. The 3 SNPs were genotyped. The genetic risk score was calculated by summing the number of risk alleles at each locus. Logistic regressions were used.</p><p>Results</p><p>Fifty-eight participants (12.6%) were diabetics and 116 (25.1%) had a MetS. In a dominant model, rs1799883 was associated with hypertriglyceridemia (OR 2.22; <i>P</i> = 0.014) and hypertriglyceridemic waist (HTGW), (<i>P</i> = 0.014) but not significantly with overweight (<i>P</i> = 0.049), abdominal obesity (<i>P</i> = 0.033) and MetS (<i>P</i> = 0.068). In a dominant model, the OR of MetS and HTGW for rs1501299 were 1.80 (<i>P</i> = 0.028) and 2.19 (<i>P</i> = 0.040) respectively. In a recessive model, the OR of hypertriglyceridemia for rs5065 was 1.94 (<i>P</i> = 0.075). The genetic risk score was significantly associated with MetS. Subjects carrying 4–5 risk alleles (18.8%) had a nearly 2.5-fold-increased risk of MetS compared to those carrying 0–1 risk allele (24.3%): OR 2.31; <i>P</i> = 0.025.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>This study supports the association of <i>FABP2</i>, <i>ANP</i> and <i>ADIPOQ</i> gene variants with MetS or its components in Afro-Caribbeans and suggests a cumulative genetic influence of theses variants on this syndrome and a potential effect on lipid metabolism.</p>