Ingestion of alcoholic beverages was assessed through report of the amount of alcohol ingested per week. This was calculated in grams per week using the correc-

A total of eight biochemical variables directly or indi- related to cardiovascular risk were compared among genotypes (tabs. V and VI).

lative were required to sign the formal consent, and when this was not possible, the volunteer’s verbal consent was required.

Of these variables, three had significantly different means among the elderly with different genetic ApoE polymorphisms: LDL-c, uric acid, and fibrinogen. Both E3E3 and E3E4 individuals had mean LDL-c levels above the expected. The E3E4 elderly had a mean LDL-c concentration significantly higher than E3E3 individuals did. Individuals with the remaining genotypes tended to have LDL-c values within the expected range.

Results

Of the six possible ApoE genotypes, only four were o- bserved in the population studied: E3E3 (70%), E3E4 (22%), E2E3 (6%), and E2E2 (2%). The gene and genotypic fre- quencies are shown in table III. As the sample size of the E2E2 and E2E3 genotypes was very low (1 genotyped indi- vidual and 4 genotyped individuals, respectively), their descriptive statistics were included in the results presen- ted, even though they were not included in the comparative statistical analyses of the most frequent genotypes (E3E3 and E3E4).

On the contrary, E3E3 individuals had a mean uric acid concentration significantly higher than E3E4 individuals. However, all individuals had their means within the expected values.

Even though the fibrinogen levels were statistically higher in E3E4 individuals, all means observed in the remai- ning genotypes were not considered indicative of cardio- vascular risk.

Even though the frequencies were within the Hardy- Weinberg equilibrium (x2=0.97; degree of freedom = 1; p > 0.57), the frequency of the E4 allele in the population studied was above 10%.

In a multivariate analysis with a logistic regression model, a significant association was observed between the LDL-c (130 mg/dL), uric acid (6 mg/dL), fibrinogen (300 mg/ dL), and cholesterol (220 mg/dL) levels and the genotypes. However, it is worth noting that only cholesterol had a sig- nificance level between 0.05 and 0.1. The remaining varia- bles had a more consistent statistical relation with signifi- cance levels ranging from 0.00 to 0.04.

Table IV shows the mean values observed for the bio- logical variables analyzed in the study. Among the indivi- duals with the most frequent genotypes, E3E3 and E3E4, significant differences were observed in regard to age, body mass index, and diastolic blood pressure. Individuals with the E3E4 genotype were significantly older than those with the E3E3 genotype. Even though the other genotypes were not included in the statistical analysis, the age of the E2E2 genotype individual was closer to the mean age of the E3E3 genotype individuals, while the mean age of the E2E3 indi- viduals tended to be similar to that observed in the E3E4 genotype individuals.

The analysis of the values obtained in calculating the odds ratio showed that individuals with the E3E4 genotype were twice more likely to have LDL-c and fibrinogen levels above that expected than individuals with the E3E3 genotype were. On the other hand, E3E4 individuals were less likely to have more elevated uric acid levels than E3E3 individuals were. Lifestyle variables, such as smoking and physical acti-

In regard to body mass index, the E3E3 individuals, on average, tended to be overweight, while both the E3E4 and E2E3 individuals had a mean body mass index within the normal range. Unlike this pattern, the E2E2 individual had a body mass index below normal, which was considered to result from undernourishment.

Table IV - Comparison of the biological profile, cardiovascular risks, and lifestyle of the elderly according to the ApoE genotypes

Surprisingly, the E3E4 genotype individuals were the only ones to have a diastolic blood pressure considered within the normal range.

E3E3 E3E4 p Mean±SD Mean±SD Age 82.72±3.1 85.36±3.23 0.008 Total cholestero 204.99±39.28 224.91±55.32 0.14 LDL-c 133.2±32.8 155.56±47.26 0.05 HDL-c 46.7±12.72 44.8±10.43 0,61 Triglycerides 136.69±81.29 122.64±49.57 0.54 Uric acid 5.82±0.92 4.91±0.59 0.005 Fibrinogen 194.97±63.99 243.72±60.38 0.04 Lp (a)) 30.26±27.86 29.15±28.32 0.91 BMI 27.44±5.14 23.67±3.5 0.02 Fat 37.33±6.41 33.92±5.68 0.14 Waist/hip ratio 0.91±0.008 0.86±0.006 0.09 SBP 16.78±25 151.72±28.27 0.2 DBP 88.77±12.95 80.07±13.46 0.033 Physical activity 6406.9±5872.2 4399±2006.2 0.32 Alcohol consumption 178.96±165.1 82.1±111.61 0.2

in Veranópolis, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul Gene n Frequency Apo E Gene (Allele) E2 0.05 E3 0.84 E4 0.11 Genotypic E2E2 1 0.02 E2E3 4 0.06 E2E4 0 0 E3E3 45 0.70 E3E4 14 0.22 E4E4 0 0

Units of the variables analyzed: age (years); physical activity (kcal/week); alcohol consumption (g/week); systolic blood pressure (SBP, mmHg); diastolic blood pressure (DBP, mmHg); BMI - body mass index; fat (%); SD - standard deviation; p - significance level obtained with the Student t test. The statistical comparison was performed only between the E3E3 and E3E4 genotypes.

Table V - Comparison of the biochemical variables related to the metabolism of the lipoproteins and cardiovascular risk among the different

Variables *E2E2 *E2E3 E3E3 E3E4 p (mg/dL) Mean Mean±SD Mean±SD Mean±SD Total cholesterol 147.70 185.15±77.14 204.99±39.28 224.91±55.32 0.142 LDL-c 80.37 109.20±77.22 133.2±32.80 155.56±47.26 0.050 HDL-c 47.36 49.96±5.04 46.70±12.72 44.80±10.43 0.610 Triglycerides 100.00 129.83±76.40 136.69±81.29 122.64±49.57 0.540 Uric acid 4.6 5.36±0.50 5.82±0.92 4.91±0.59 0.005 Glucose 66.00 85.00±7.39 94.54±21.74 91.50±20.14 0.644 Fibrinogen 121.30 194.90±79.10 194.97±63.99 243.72±60.38 0.036 Lp(a) 8.80 26.73±20.80 30.26±27.86 29.15±28.32 0.91