Gender differences in a Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic population with respect to apolipoprotein E phenotype frequencies

Abstract

Apolipoprotein E polymorphism was examined in an Italian population of Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients. There were significant differences (p < 0.05) in allele frequencies between male and female patients due to an under-representation of the E4 allele in the female group. No differences in allele frequencies were noted when non-diabetic male and female control subjects were compared. Both control groups exhibited similar allele distributions to that of male diabetic patients, but were significantly different (p < 0.05) from female diabetic patients. A closer examination of the female diabetic population revealed that under-representation of the E4 allele was principally confined to patients aged 60 years or older. This subgroup showed a significantly different (p < 0.05) allele frequency profile from control subjects (both men and women) and diabetic men, whereas this was not observed in the younger diabetic women (< or = 59 years). The results are consistent with the suggestion that the E4 allele may be a particular risk factor for female diabetic patients.

Evaluation of clinical activity and safety of Daflon 500 mg in type 2 diabetic female patients

“…Diabetic patients showed an increased mortality and morbidity compared with non-diabetics and are more likely to develop cardiovascular diseases (Boemi et al, 1993). This high risk cannot be completely predicted by known risk factors such as hypertension and plasma lipids.…”

Apolipoprotein E Polymorphism as a Risk Factor for Vascular Disease in Diabetic Patients

“…Free medical treatment is available to diabetic subjects under the Italian health system; therefore, patients attending the center are representative of the diabetic population. During the recruitment period, 517 patients (242 men and 275 women) were enrolled, of whom 81 (32 men and 49 women) had type I diabetes and 436 (210 men and 226 women) had type II diabetes, as assessed by World Health Organization criteria (10,11). Vascular disease was determined at the time of recruitment (1989) and 4 years later.…”

“…M E T H O D S -Diabetic patients were recruited randomly from those attending the diabetes center of Ancona Hospital for their routine control visits, as described previously (10). Free medical treatment is available to diabetic subjects under the Italian health system; therefore, patients attending the center are representative of the diabetic population.…”

“…Plasma was rapidly frozen and stored at -70°C before being shipped to Geneva on dry ice as described (10). Plasma lipid, lipoprotein, and apo levels were assayed in Geneva (10), and apo E was phenotyped by Western blotting (10).…”

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

“…8) Similar findings were reported for other populations of Caucasian women. 9,10) Apo E plays important roles in the metabolism of lipoproteins as ligands of LDL receptors and lipoprotein remnant receptors. There are three common apo E isoforms, namely, E3, E4, and E2.…”