Effect of Apolipoprotein E Genotype on Association of Menopausal Status with Lipid Level in Japanese Women

Serum lipid level increases during hormonal transition before and after menopause. In Caucasians, changes in lipid level after menopause across apolipoprotein E (apo E) genotypes were studied. We investigated 159 Japanese healthy female workers (age range, 35-63). The apo E genotypes were determined by the polymerase chain reaction single-strand conformation polymorphisms method for the entire apo E-coding region. The low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-cholesterol) level significantly varied according to the apo E genotype, but not according to the menopausal status after adjusting for age and body mass index (p < 0.001). The effect of menopause on LDL-cholesterol level significantly varied depending on the apo E genotype (p < 0.05). Apo E2 [APOE, R158C] carriers in the senium period had a lower LDL-cholesterol level than those in the fertile period (81.5 ± 12.0 mg/dl vs. 122.3 ± 12.9 mg/dl). In contrast, apo E3 homozygotes in the senium period showed a higher LDL-cholesterol level than those in the fertile period (140.9 ± 7.0 mg/dl vs. 134.1 ± 6.1 mg/dl). The LDL-cholesterol levels of apo E4 [APOE, C112R] carriers were the similar for the two periods. These results indicate that the serum lipid control in perimenopausal women should be customized according to the apo E genotype for the promotion of women's health in Japan.