Modulation of plasma triglycerides concentration by sterol-based treatment in children carrying different genes

BACKGROUND: Dyslipidemias have increased during the last decades in children. AIM: The objective of this study was to analyze the influence of different polymorphisms in plasma triglyceride levels of children following a dietary treatment with plant sterols. DESIGN: A randomized, double-blind, crossover, controlled clinical trial was carried out in 26 children (16 women). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Commercial milk, with 2.24 g sterols, was ingested daily during 3 weeks , and the same amount of kimmed milk without sterols, during the 3 week placebo phase. Both phases were separated by a washout period of 2 weeks. At the beginning and end of each phase, blood draws were performed. RESULTS: Apolipoprotein A5 Ser19Trp (P = 0.002), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha L162V (P = 0.003), APOE APOE2/3/4 (P = 0.012), and APOE APOE2,3,4 (P = 0.025) show statistically significant differences between their haplotypes in plasma triglyceride levels. Other genes did not show statistically significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: Further studies are needed to establish which genotype combinations would be the most protective against hypertriglyceridemia.