Serum lipid levels and ApoB gene Xba I and 3'-VNTR polymorphisms in longevous elderly Han population in Zhejiang

AIM: To study the levels of serum lipids and the effects of apolipoprotein B (ApoB) gene Xba I-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and 3'-variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism on serum lipid and apolipoprotein levels in longevous elderly Han population in Zhejiang. METHODS: Physical and laboratory examinations were performed on longevous elders, children of longevous elders, normal control people and children of non-longevous elders, and the Xba I-RFLP and 3'-VNTR polymorphism in ApoB gene were genotyped. RESULTS: The serum levels of triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and ApoB were negatively correlated with longevity (P<0.05), while the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was positively correlated with longevity (P<0.01). The levels of total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C and ApoB were higher and the HDL-C level was lower in the people with Xba I-RFLP X⁺X^- genotype than those in the people with Xba I-RFLP X^-X^- genotype (P<0.01). The levels of TC, TG, LDL-C and ApoB were higher and the HDL-C level was lower in the people with 3'-VNTR large allele than those in the people with 3'-VNTR minor allele (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: High TG, LDL-C and ApoB levels and low HDL-C level are not conductive to longevity. Serum lipid levels in the people with Xba I-RFLP X^-X^- genotype or 3'-VNTR minor allele are healthy and conductive to longevity.