A single nucleotide polymorphism in the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase gene ( HMGCR) influences the serum triacylglycerol relationship with dietary fat and fibre in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition in Norfolk (EPIC-Norfolk) study.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the influence of the single nucleotide polymorphism (rs 17238540) at the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase gene (HMGCR) on the relationship between serum lipids and dietary fat and fibre (NSP). FFQ and pyrosequencing were used to assess cross-sectional dietary intake and HMGCR genotype in a population study with data for serum lipids available. Genotype frequencies and allele distributions for 23 011 participants were: TT 95·65 %, TG 4.29 % and GG 0.06 %; T 97.8 % and G 2.2 %. In regression analyses, the TG + GG group showed a significant positive relationship between TAG and SFA intake (+0·11 (95 % CI 0.02, 0.20) mmol TAG/l; P=0.017; per 3% SFA energy increase) while the TT individuals showed no change in the TAG levels related to SFA intake (― 0·0007 (95 % CI ― 0·02, 0.02) mmol TAG/l; P=0·99). TG + GG individuals showed an inverse relationship between TAG and fibre intake higher (―0·14 (95 % CI ― 0.22, ― 0.05) mmol TAG/l than the TT group (― 0·04 (95 % CI ― 0·06, ― 0.02) mmol TAG/l). In both cases the respective coefficient regressions of TAG were different between the genotype groups (Z = 2.27, P=0·023 for SFA intake; Z = 2.19, P=0·029 for fibre intake). Individuals carrying the G allele may show a greater response in lower TAG levels with reduced SFA intake and increased fibre intake compared with those homozygous for the T allele. The effectiveness of different dietary interventions to control serum lipids may vary according to HMGCR genotype.