Heredity, environment, serum lipoproteins and serum uric acid: A study in a community without familial eating pattern☆

Abstract Correlation analysis of total serum cholesterol values within families carried out in a Kibbutz-environment in which the ‘family eating pattern’ of previous studies is not present, provides little or no support to a predominant genetic hypothesis for the determination of such cholesterol levels. With regard to beta-cholesterol percentage and triglycerides, the results from this study are parallel to our results found for total cholesterol. It is worth noting, in particular, that where potentially higher correlations are found in the present study, these are primarily relationships between father and children. This study goes beyond correlation analysis in an attempt to find genetic relationships. Analysis of variance and ‘extreme-quartile’ analysis were employed, with results which agree with the correlation analysis with respect to the serum lipoproteins. However, when serum uric acid levels are considered, a different pattern emerges. All 3 methods of analysis provide a consistent pattern which supports a distinct genetic hypothesis for the determination of this biochemical parameter. A suggestion is advanced to account for the results of earlier studies as compared to those found here in respect to the serum lipids. The ‘family eating pattern’ has confounded the environmental influences with the genetic effects; and investigations such as these must be carried out where such a pattern exerts no influence if the true genetic picture is to be seen. It is emphasized that the results reported here apply to genetic relationships involving children 16–18 yr old and reflects nothing on what may emerge when children reach the age of their parents. A further limitation of these results must be constantly kept in view: they apply only to families where all members have lipoprotein values in the generally accepted wide range of normal values.