Visceral obesity attenuates the effect of the hepatic lipase -514C>T polymorphism on plasma HDL-cholesterol levels in French-Canadian men

The dyslipidemic state of visceral obesity is characterized by increased plasma triglyceride (TG) levels, low HDL-cholesterol concentrations and alterations in LDL composition and concentration. A functional, non-coding -514C>T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the hepatic lipase gene (LIPC) has been related to variation in HDL-cholesterol concentrations. Objectives: To investigate the hypotheses that the LIPC -514C>T polymorphism may be associated with a deteriorated lipoprotein-lipid profile and that environmental factor, such as abdominal obesity, alters this association. Methods: A total of 235 French-Canadian men from the greater Quebec City area were assigned into three groups on the basis of their LIPC -514C>T SNP, including 149 CC homozygotes, 75 CT heterozygotes, and 11 TT homozygotes. Results: In the present study, the highest values of BMI, waist circumference, and accumulation of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) were observed among TT homozygotes (p<0.05). After adjustment for age and BMI, TT homozygotes still showed higher plasma apolipoprotein (apo) AI and HDL-TG concentrations than the two other groups (p<0.05). When the two genotype groups (CC vs CT/TT) were further divided on the basis of VAT accumulation using a cut-off point of 130 cm2 (high vs low) it appears that irrespective of the genotype subjects with low VAT had higher HDL2-cholesterol concentrations (p<0.0001). However, lean carriers of the T allele had higher plasma HDL2cholesterol levels than lean CC homozygotes. The beneficial effect of the T allele on plasma HDL2cholesterol levels was abolished in the presence of visceral obesity (VAT>130 cm^2). Conclusion: In summary, the presence of visceral obesity attenuates the impact of the LIPC -514C>T polymorphism on plasma HDL2-cholesterol levels.