A potential limitation of this study is that the age groups were recruited differently, and, although all the individuals apparently displayed no pathological condition, some factors (e.g. environment, life-style, nutritional status, and education level) may provide advantages and may result in overrepresentation or selection of a certain HP allele in one of the age groups.

In conclusion, the present results report a relevant association of HP 1/2 genetic polymorphism with human longevity. The crucial role

Table 2

HP*1 F/S polymorphism: allele frequency in age classes studied.

HP Groups Comparison 1: Age Class 2 vs. Age Class 1 Comparison 2: Age Class 3 vs. Age Class 2 Age Class 1 Age Class 2 Age Class 3 O.R. 95% C.I. p-value O.R. 95% C.I. p-value 1*F 93 (42.5%) 178 (42.5%) 55 (37.7%) 1.001 0.719–1.393 1.000 0.818 0.556–1.205 0.330 1*S 126 (57.5%) 241 (57.5%) 91 (62.3%) 0.999 0.718–1.391 1.222 0.830–1.799

Table 3

HP*1 F/S polymorphism in carriers of HP*1/*1 and HP*2/*1 genotype.

Groups Comparison 1: Age Class 2 vs. Comparison 2: Age Class 3 vs. Age Class 1 Age Class 2 HP*1/*1 Age Class 1 Age Class 2 Age Class 3 Armitage's trend test p-value Armitage's trend test p-value N=37 N=96 N=33 O.R.a O.R.a F*/F* 8(21.6%) 27(28.1%) 7(21.2%) 0.955 0.917 1.173 0.558 F*/S* 15(40.6%) 28(29.2%) 11(33.3%) S*/S* 14(37.8%) 41(42.7%) 15(45.5%) HP*2/*1 Age Class 1 Age Class 2 Age Class 3 O.R. 95% C.I. P value O.R. 95% C.I. P value N=145 N=227 N=80 F* 62(42.8%) 96(42.3%) 30(37.5%) 0.981 0.644–1.495 1.000 0.819 0.485–1.382 0.509 S* 83(57.2%) 131(57.7%) 50(62.5%) 1.019 0.669–1.554 1.221 0.724–2.062

a Assuming HP*1S as risk allele.

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