Association of the apolipoprotein A5 gene -1131 T>C polymorphism with fasting blood lipids: a meta-analysis in 37859 subjects

BACKGROUND: Studies examining the association of apolipoprotein A5 (APOA5) gene -1131 T>C polymorphism with blood lipids produced inconsistent results. In this meta-analysis encompassing all the relevant studies, we aimed to investigate the association of the -1131 T>C polymorphism with fasting blood lipids. METHODS: We limited our analysis to the following four blood lipid variables: total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Subjects were confined to adults who were at least 18 years old. A dominant model was used for this meta-analysis. 37 studies with 37859 subjects were included in this meta-analysis. RESULTS: The results showed that the carriers of -1131C allele have higher blood TC and TG than the non-carriers: standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.08, 95% confidence interval (CI, 0.05, 0.11), P < 0.00001, P(heterogeneity )= 0.42, and SMD = 0.31, 95% CI (0.27, 0.34), P < 0.00001, P(heterogeneity )= 0.0003, respectively. Significant association between the -1131 T>C polymorphism and lower blood HDL-C was also detected under the dominant model: SMD = -0.17, 95% CI (-0.21, -0.14), P < 0.00001, P(heterogeneity )= 0.003. CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis supports the strong association of the APOA5 -1131 T>C polymorphism with higher levels of TC and TG, and lower levels of HDL-C.