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Difference in apolipoprotein E type 4 allele (APOE ɛ4) among dentate and edentulous subjects
Author(s) -
Bergdahl Maud,
Bergdahl Jan,
Nyberg Lars,
Nilsson LarsGöran
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
gerodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1741-2358
pISSN - 0734-0664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-2358.2008.00225.x
Subject(s) - apolipoprotein e , medicine , allele , logistic regression , gerontology , demography , population , dentistry , genetics , disease , biology , environmental health , sociology , gene
Objectives: To evaluate the frequency of apolipoprotein (APOE) alleles and determine whether APOE type 4 allele (ɛ4) was associated with edentulousness even when certain factors were controlled. Background: The APOE are important in lipid homeostasis, and APOE ɛ4 has been found in many diseases and to have a negative impact on longevity. Tooth loss is more common in ill aged subjects with low income and education. Materials and methods: In a population‐based study involving 1860 subjects between 35 and 85 years 1321 dentate (mean age = 54; 54% women, 46% men) and 539 edentulous (mean age = 72; 62% women, 38% men) subjects were studied. Logistic regression was performed with dentate/edentulous as dependent variables and years of education, socio‐economic status, social network, stress level, handicap from birth, 23 various diseases and APOE ɛ4 as covariates. Thereafter, APOE ɛ4 frequencies were studied in 342 dentate and 336 edentulous subjects 50–85 years of age. The subjects were matched with regard to age, gender, years of education, living condition, stress level, handicap from birth and 23 various diseases. Results: APOE allele frequency in the total group was ɛ2 = 7.8%, ɛ3 = 76.4% and ɛ4 = 15.8%. Age, living condition, years of education and APOE ɛ4 were significant covariates in edentulous subjects ( p ≤ 0.001). APOE ɛ4 in the matched groups revealed significant differences between the dentate group and the edentulous group (χ 2 = 5.68; p = 0.017). There was no group effect ( F (29,648) = 0.849; p < 0.696; Wilks’ lambda = 0.963). In the dentate group, the frequencies of APOE were: ɛ2 = 8.8%, ɛ3 = 77.9% and ɛ4 = 13.3%. Corresponding frequencies of APOE in the edentulous group were: ɛ2 = 6.6%, ɛ3 = 75.4% and ɛ4 = 18.0%. Conclusion: Despite matching both groups with regard to different background factors, the edentulous group had a higher frequency of APOE ɛ4 than the dentate group. Thus, genetic factors might contribute to greater risk in developing complex oral diseases leading to tooth loss or just be an indication that the subjects in our study carrying APOE ɛ4 are more fragile.