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Genetic and nutritional factors determining circulating levels of lipoprotein(a): results of the “Montignoso Study”

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Abstract

Increasing evidence shows an association between high lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels and atherothrombotic diseases. Lp(a) trait is largely controlled by kringle-IV type 2 (KIV-2) size polymorphism in LPA gene, encoding for apo(a). Environmental factors are considered to determinate minor phenotypic variability in Lp(a) levels. In the present study, we investigated the possible gene–environment interaction between KIV-2 polymorphism and Mediterranean diet adherence or fish weekly intake in determining Lp(a) levels. We evaluated Lp(a), KIV-2 polymorphism, fish intake and Mediterranean diet adherence in 452 subjects [median age (range) 66 (46–80)years] from Montignoso Heart and Lung Project (MEHLP) population. In subjects with high KIV-2 repeats number, influence of Mediterranean diet adherence in reducing Lp(a) levels was observed (p = 0.049). No significant difference in subjects with low KIV-2 repeats according to diet was found. Moreover, in high-KIV-2-repeat subjects, we observed a trend towards influence of fish intake on reducing Lp(a) levels (p = 0.186). At multivariate linear regression analysis, high adherence to Mediterranean diet remains a significant and independent determinant of lower Lp(a) levels (β = − 64.97, standard error = 26.55, p = 0.015). In conclusion, this study showed that only subjects with high KIV-2 repeats can take advantage to lower Lp(a) levels from correct nutritional habits and, in particular, from Mediterranean diet.

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Author notes

  1. A. Sereni and Elena Sticchi contributed equally to this manuscript.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Atherothrombotic Diseases Center, Careggi Hospital, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy

    Alice Sereni, Elena Sticchi, Anna Maria Gori, Alberto Magi, Andrea Volta, Alessandra Murri, Rosanna Abbate, Gian Franco Gensini, Rossella Marcucci & Betti Giusti

  2. Gabriele Monasterio Foundation, Regione Toscana CNR, Pisa, Italy

    Daniele Della Latta, Giuli Jamagidze & Dante Chiappino

  3. Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Unit of Clinical Nutrition, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy

    Francesco Sofi

Authors
  1. Alice Sereni
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  2. Elena Sticchi
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  3. Anna Maria Gori
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  4. Alberto Magi
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Correspondence to Elena Sticchi.

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Sereni, A., Sticchi, E., Gori, A.M. et al. Genetic and nutritional factors determining circulating levels of lipoprotein(a): results of the “Montignoso Study”. Intern Emerg Med 15, 1239–1245 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11739-020-02276-5

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