CARDIORESPIRATORY FITNESS AND SERUM TRIGLYCERIDES IN RELATION TO APO E GENOTYPE: THE DNASCO -STUDY 522

Hypertriglyceridemia and apolipoprotein E4 genotype are associated with increased risk of premature atherosclerosis. The aim of the present study was to analyze the relation of cardiorespiratory fitness to serum triglycerides(S-TG) with regard to the carrier status of the ε4 allele in the apolipoprotein E gene in 140 men, aged 53 to 62 years. The data were derived from the 2,5 year run-in period of the DNASCO exercise intervention trial. Maximal oxygen uptake (˙VO2max) was measured using breath by breath respiratory gas analyses during maximal, symptom limited cycle ergometer exercise stress test. Serum triglycerides were assayed enzymatically and ApoE genotype with a PCR based method. During the follow-up, ˙VO2max increased from 2.4 (SD 0.4) to 2.5 (0.5) l/min, BMI from 26.7 (3.6) to 27.1(3.4), and S-TG from 1.28 (0.72) to 1.48 (0.80) mmol/l (p≤0.001 for all). Change (Δ) in ˙VO2max correlated inversely (r=-0.23, p=0.008) and ΔBMI positively (r=0.22, p=0.011) with ΔS-TG. The inverse association between Δ˙VO2max and ΔS-TG was independent(p=0.01 for trend) of ΔBMI and Δenergy intake, baseline S-TG level and Apo E genotype (carrier vs. non-carrier of the ε4 allele). The present results indicate that the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and serum triglycerides is not influenced by the presence or absence of the ε4 allele in the apolipoprotein E gene.