Fat Intake Influences the Effect of the Hepatic Lipase C-514T Polymorphism on HDL-Cholesterol Levels in Children:

Polymorphisms in the hepatic lipase gene have been associated with variability in plasma HDL-C concentrations, but contradictory results have been reported regarding the effect of diet on this association in adults. In our study, we examined whether dietary fat intake modified the association between lipid levels and the C-514T polymorphism in the hepatic lipase gene (LIPC C-514T) in prepubescent children. The LIPC C-514T polymorphism was determined by PCR and restriction analysis in 1260 healthy school children, aged 6–8. Information on the children’s nutrient intake was obtained by means of a validated food frequency questionnaire. We found that regardless of gender, carriers of the minor allele had significantly higher apo A-I levels compared to noncarrier subjects. The effect of the polymorphism, however, was modified by dietary fat intake. In boys, the presence of the LIPC C-514T polymorphism was associated with significantly higher HDL-C among children within the highest tertiles of total, saturated...