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In this analysis, we found that the mtDNA haplogroup F was not only associated with longevity but also had an effect on serum lipid levels. Long-lived subjects with mtDNA haplogroup F demonstrated higher HDL-c levels. Higher HDL-c has been shown to be associated with a lower prevalence of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome (Agoston-Coldea et al., 2007; Jones, 2008; Woodward et al., 2007), all of which may increase mortality. However, we observed an effect of the mtDNA haplogroup F on metabolism in long-lived populations but not in controls. It is tempting to speculate that because there were different serum lipid levels between the long-lived subjects and controls, no matter what their mtDNA variants, multiple mechanisms other than mtDNA haplogroup F possibly maintain lipid metabolism. In addition, we list some phenotypes of longevity and compare them with those of control subjects in Table 1. All of these phenotypes are quantitative traits that are complicated by a great deal of interplay between genes and environment (Turnpenny and Ellard, 2005). In the present study, several phenotypes in Table 1 are significantly different between the two groups of subjects. Aging is a predominant reason for contributing to the difference in these traits. Although our results show that there is statistical significance for mtDNA haplogroups between the two groups of subjects, we are still not sure that the difference in these traits in Table 1 is due to the differences in mtDNA haplogroups.
5. Conclusions
Haplogroup F may be associated with successful aging and exceptional longevity in women of the Bama Zhuang population. Haplogroup F in long-lived individuals was associated with higher HDL levels, which supported the association of mtDNA variants with successful aging and longevity. Although functional analysis is needed, the amino acid change S531T (m.13928GNC) in the MT-ND5 gene might account for the beneficial effect of haplogroup F. In addition, because longevity and successful aging are complex traits affected by local environments and other additional factors, these factors might interact with mtDNA variations in long-lived individuals and eventually increase desirable longevity.