Haplotype analysis of the Apolipoprotein A5 gene in Moroccan patients with the metabolic syndrome

BACKGROUND: In this case–control study we investigated the relative contribution of commons APOA5 polymorphisms and haplotypes to the risk of metabolic syndrome in Moroccan patients. METHODS: Using the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria for metabolic syndrome, the study included 176 patients and 105 controls. We genotyped APOA5 polymorphisms (−1131 T > C, c.56C > G, c.553G > T and c.1259 T > C) by PCR-RFLP analysis. The effects of APOA5 polymorphisms and constructed haplotypes on metabolic syndrome were estimated using logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: The statistical analysis showed a significant association between APOA5 -1131 T > C and APOA5 c.56C > G polymorphisms with metabolic syndrome in both Codominant and Dominant models. The APOA5 -1131 T > C polymorphism was associated with increased fasting glucose (p = 0.0295) and reduced HDL levels (p = 0.0091). Carriers of the APOA5 c.56G allele had increased triglyceride levels (p = 0.0435) and waist circumference (p = 0.0122). Similarly the APOA5 1259 T > C variant was associated with increased waist circumference (p = 0.0463). The haplotypes CCGT (OR = 3.223; p = 0.00278) and CGGT (OR = 8.234; p = 0.00534) were significantly associated with susceptibility to metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirms the association of APOA5 -1131 T > C and c.56C > G variants with the predisposition to metabolic syndrome complications.