The Taq1B-variant in the cholesteryl ester-transfer protein gene and the risk of metabolic syndrome

The metabolic syndrome is associated with low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol ( HDL-C) and decreased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particle size. The Taq1B-polymorphism in the cholesteryl ester-transfer protein ( CETP)-gene influences HDL-C, CETP concentration, and LDL-size. We investigated the effect of the Taq1B-polymorphism on the risk of the metabolic syndrome in 1,503 participants ( 973 men, 530 women) of the Salzburg Atherosclerosis Prevention program in subjects at High Individual Risk study. CETP concentration was determined in a subgroup ( n = 486) by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 16.7% ( 18.5% in men, 13.5% in women). The Taq1B-polymorphism influenced significantly CETP concentrations, HDL-C levels, and LDL-size ( P < 0.001 for all). The relative risk of the metabolic syndrome was reduced by 32% ( odds ratio ( OR) 0.68 ( 95% CI: 0.51 - 0.89), P = 0.005) in carriers of the B2 variant. This risk reduction persisted after adjustment for age and sex ( OR 0.69 ( 0.53 - 0.92), P = 0.01) and after further adjustment for body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, blood pressure, insulin resistance ( IR), HDL-C, and triglycerides (TGs) ( OR 0.43 ( 0.26 - 0.72), P = 0.001). Furthermore, the risk reduction was more pronounced in men than in women. We conclude that CETP plays an important role in the metabolic syndrome, possibly involving novel functions of CETP.