OBJECTIVE:In the present study, we evaluated the influence of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and apolipoprotein (apo) E polymorphisms on lipid concentrations of 178 Greek men of similar age with coronary heart disease (CHD), but varying body mass index (BMI). DESIGN: Patients were divided according to their BMI (in kg/m²) into three groups: lean (BMI=20-24.9), overweight (BMI=25-29.9), and obese (BMI ≥30). Polymorphisms of LPL (HindIII, S447X) and apo E (ε2, ε3, ε4), and lipid parameters were studied. RESULTS: There was a negative correlation between BMI and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentration (r=-0.272, p<0.001), as has already been described. Lean homozygotes for the HindIII(+) allele had higher HDL-C levels compared to lean homozygotes for the HindIII(-) allele (p=0.012). No correlation was found between S447X or apo E polymorphisms and BMI or plasma lipids in any group. Overweight men with the ε3/ε3 and SS genotypes had higher triglycerides concentration compared with overweight men with ε3/ε3 and SX (p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The HindIII polymorphism alone may influence HDL-C concentration in lean men, in contrast to S447X alone, which has no influence on any lipid parameters. However, the S447X and apo E polymorphisms may have a synergetic effect and alter plasma triglyceride concentration in overweight men.