Longitudinal study of the association between ABO phenotype and total serum cholesterol level in a Japanese cohort

Abstract

The relationship between ABO blood phenotype and total serum cholesterol (TC) level was examined in a Japanese population to determine whether an elevated TC level is associated with phenotype A, as has been demonstrated in many West European populations. Such studies in nonwhite populations are scarce, and findings generally failed to demonstrate the relationship. Inconsistent results from cross-sectional studies of various racial groups with widely varying ages raised an age effect as a possible explanatory factor. It was also suggested that the ABO-TC association may not be apparent in populations with low fat intake or low mean cholesterol level. These hypotheses are addressed by examining long-term TC data collected serially from the unexposed controls of the atomic bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki who were participants of the Adult Health Study program at the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission-Radiation Effects Research Foundation between 1958 and 1986. The statistical method of growth curve analysis, through the mixed effect model of Laird and Ware [1982], was used to model age-dependent changes in cholesterol levels within individuals. The effects of the ABO polymorphism in modifying the resultant growth curve are examined. We demonstrate that TC levels are elevated on average by about 4 mg/dl in phenotype A compared to non-A in the Japanese (P < 0.00001), and that this relationship is maintained from early to late adulthood, independent of sex, body mass index, cohort status, or city of residence. Thus, phenotype A individuals may be more predisposed to cardiovascular disease through one of its major risk factors. This is the first study of the ABO-cholesterol association in the Japanese, and the first based on a cohort with longitudinally collected TC data.

Erythrocyte-Bound Apolipoprotein B in Relation to Atherosclerosis, Serum Lipids and ABO Blood Group

“…Blood group O has been associated with slightly lower cholesterol levels [19], whereas others have found associations between blood group A and elevated plasma concentrations for total cholesterol [20], [21], and LDL-C [21]. We found similar results in our study with elevated plasma LDL-C levels in subjects with blood group A.…”

Blood group in relation to oral Fordyce's granules and serum cholesterol level

“…The current study showed that blood group O and positive Rh was the most predominant among the study sample which is a common finding in studies of this type 24,25 . In the Middle East, similar distributions of blood grouping O most common followed by, A, B, AB (least common) have been reported from studies in neighboring countries; Saudi Arabia, 26 Kuwait, 27 Jordan, 28 Iran 29 and Turkey 30 …”

“…24,25 In the Middle East, similar distributions of blood grouping O most common followed by, A, B, AB (least common) have been reported from studies in neighboring countries; Saudi Arabia, 26 Kuwait, 27 Jordan, 28 Iran 29 and Turkey. 30 While previous studies have indicated an association between plasma lipid levels and ABO blood group might 31 the association of various ABO groups with total cholesterol levels has recently been reinforced in genetic research and ABO locus variation. [32][33][34] Many studies demonstrate that the blood groups correlate to several diseases such as osteoporosis, thyroid disorder, and hyper-cholesterolemia.…”

ABO Blood Group and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Two Prospective Cohort Studies

“…Along with fibrinogen, vWF also participates in platelet aggregation 32, 33 and play a role in the development of atherosclerosis. ABO blood group has been associated with plasma lipid levels; in particular, the A blood group has been noted to have higher levels of serum total cholesterol 5, 6 and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. 5 …”

“…3, 4 Other studies also indicate that ABO blood group might influence plasma lipid levels. 5, 6 Recently, several genome-wide association studies found that variants at ABO locus were associated with plasma lipid levels 7, 8 and inflammatory markers including soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1), 9, 10 plasma soluble E-selectin levels 11, 12 and P-selectin levels, 10 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), 13 which were markers of inflammation associated with the CHD risk.…”