A meta-analysis of studies of the effect of apolipoprotein A5 -1131 T>C polymorphism on triglyceride level in Chinese

BMY Cheung1, KL Ong2, AWK Tso2, KSL Lam2, TH Lam2, GN Thomas1, CQ Jiang3. 1University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom, 2University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China, 3Guangzhou no. 12 Hospital, Guangzhou, China.

Introduction: The -1131 T>C polymorphism in the apolipoprotein A5 gene has been reported to be a major determinant of plasma triglyceride level in many studies that vary in size and ethnicity. In Chinese, this polymorphism is common; we therefore undertook a meta-analysis of studies of this polymorphism in this ethnic group.

Method: We searched the literature for studies reporting the relationship of this polymorphism with plasma triglyceride level in healthy Chinese subjects not on lipid lowering medications. The meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager Version 5.0 (Copenhagen: The Nordic Cochrane Centre, The Cochrane Collaboration, 2008).

Results: The combined estimate of the standardized mean difference in plasma triglyceride level between the TT and CC genotype was 0.58 (95% confidence interval: 0.43-0.74) in a random effects model (see Table).

Conclusion: Combining the studies in a meta-analysis provides a reliable estimate of the genetic effect of this polymorphism. The apolipoprotein A5 -1131T>C polymorphism is a major determinant of plasma triglyceride levels in Chinese. Genotyping may be useful to identify individuals carrying the C allele, who not only tend to have a higher triglyceride level but may be more responsive to a fibrate.

Table 1. Meta-analysis of studies on Chinese.