Determination of genetic scores to estimate disturbances in circulating lipid profile biomarkers of adolescents: A preliminary report

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop genetic scores based on single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to lipid metabolism and evaluate whether they used to estimate disturbances in the circulating lipid profile biomarkers of adolescents. Methods: In a preliminary cross-sectional approach, 113 Brazilian adolescents (10-19 y of age) with cardiovascular disease risk factors were evaluated. Genetic scores from 20 SNPs related to lipid metabolism were calculated by codifying each of them as the rescaled sum of risk allele frequencies. All scores were distributed in classes between 0 (absence of risk alleles) and 10 (presence of all risk alleles) to evaluate the additive effect of risk alleles on the lipid profile outcomes in the same interval. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between each score and blood lipid profile biomarkers. Results: Significant associations between genetic scores and unfavorable outcomes in all evaluated lipid profile biomarkers were found. The mean +/- SD of the genetic scores for the circulating lipid profile biomarkers in the 0 to 10 scale were 4.4 +/- 2 for triacylglycerol, 5.3 +/- 1.5 for total cholesterol, 5.6 +/- 1.2 for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, 4.9 +/- 1.6 for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and 3.6 +/- 1.9 for minimally modified low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. For each point obtained in each genetic score, a mean increase +/- SE of 15.8 +/- 4.2 mg/dL in triacylglycerol (P = 0.0001), 5.3 +/- 1.7 mg/dL in total cholesterol (P = 0.0032), 4.8 +/- 1.3 mg/dL in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0.0003), and 1.1 +/- 0.3 U/L in minimally modified low density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0.0020) and a mean decrease of 3.7 +/- 0.7 mg/dL in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P < 0.0001) concentrations were obtained. Conclusion: The calculated genetic scores could be used to estimate disturbances in circulating lipid profile biomarkers of adolescents and be applied in clinical practice to better target interventions to reduce cardiovascular disease risk throughout life. (c) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Genetic scores based on SNPs related to lipid metabolism were found to be significantly associated with unfavorable outcomes in circulating lipid profile biomarkers of adolescents. Each point increase in the genetic scores was associated with changes in specific lipid profile biomarkers, suggesting potential clinical applications to target interventions for reducing cardiovascular disease risk.