Genetics
CETP TaqIB B2 allele blunts the post-meal fat spike in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (Clin Chem Lab Med 2007)
Original title: Association between the TaqIB polymorphism in the cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene locus and postprandial plasma lipoprotein levels in heterozygotes for familial hypercholesterolemia
This study examined the influence of the CETP TaqIB polymorphism on triglyceride response to an oral fat tolerance test (OFTT) in 67 patients heterozygous for familial hypercholesterolemia (32 men, 35 postmenopausal women). B1 allele carriers had lower HDL-cholesterol (p=0.013) and higher postprandial triglyceride response at 6 and 8 hours (p=0.05 and p=0.04) than B2 allele carriers. In patients with a positive OFTT response, the B2 allele was significantly associated with lower triglyceride area-under-the-curve than B1, adjusting for age, sex, and BMI (p less than 0.01), while in patients with a negative OFTT response, allele type showed no significant association with triglyceride levels (p=0.99). The authors conclude that at higher triglyceride concentrations, the B2 allele may protect against an exaggerated postprandial triglyceride rise and subsequent HDL-cholesterol lowering.
Original abstract
Background: We examined the influence of cholesteryl ester transfer protein TaqIB polymorphism on triglyceride (TG) response to an oral fat tolerance test (OFTT) in patients heterozygous for familial hypercholesterolemia (hFH).
Methods: We genotyped 67 hFH patients (32 men and 35 postmenopausal women) who were subjected to an OFTT.
Results: All B1 allele carriers had lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (p=0.013) and higher postprandial TG response at 6 and 8 h (p=0.05 and p=0.04, respectively) compared to B2 allele carriers. Multiple regression analysis showed that in the hFH group with a positive response, the presence of the B2 allele was significantly related to lower levels of TG-area under the curve (AUC) (p<0.01) compared to B1, adjusting for age, gender and body mass index. In the hFH group with a negative response, although age and female gender had a significant effect on TG-AUC levels (p<0.01 for both), the allele type was not significantly related to the TG-AUC levels (p=0.99).
Conclusions: B2 carriers had a lower postprandial TG response compared to B1 carriers. There were no differences in TG levels between B1 and B2 carriers in patients with a negative OFTT response. Therefore, at higher TG concentration, the B2 allele may protect against an exaggerated postprandial TG increase and subsequent lowering of HDL-C.
familial hypercholesterolaemiagenetics
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.