Genetics
Eating fish and a specific LPA gene variant together lower Lp(a) levels, an Italian study of 647 people (Atherosclerosis 2007)
Original title: Fish intake and LPA 93C>T polymorphism: gene-environment interaction in modulating lipoprotein (a) concentrations
This study examined how two LPA gene polymorphisms (93C>T and 121G>A) and dietary habits jointly affect Lp(a) in 647 healthy Italian subjects (260 men, 387 women, median age 48). Linear regression showed fish intake significantly and negatively influenced Lp(a) (beta=-0.174, P=0.04), after adjusting for smoking, C-reactive protein, diet, and LDL cholesterol. The LPA 93C>T polymorphism significantly affected Lp(a) in a dose-dependent manner, with lower levels in carriers of the rare T allele, while LPA 121G>A had no significant effect. A significant interaction was found between LPA 93C>T and fish intake in lowering Lp(a), with T-allele carriers who ate high amounts of fish having lower Lp(a) than common-allele homozygotes with the highest fish intake. The findings show daily fish intake interacts with the LPA 93C>T polymorphism to lower Lp(a) concentrations.
Original abstract
High plasma lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] concentrations are an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic diseases. To date, no effective intervention strategies on reducing Lp(a) concentrations have been reported. The aim of the study was to evaluate the possible modulation of two polymorphisms of LPA gene (LPA 93C>T and LPA 121G>A) and nutritional habits on Lp(a) concentrations. We studied 647 healthy Italian subjects (260 M; 387 F) with a median age of 48 years (range: 19-78) enrolled in an epidemiological study conducted in Florence, Italy. A linear regression analysis showed a significant negative influence of fish intake (beta=-0.174+/-0.084; p=0.04) on Lp(a) concentrations, after adjustment for smoking habit, C-reactive protein serum concentrations, dietary habits and LDL-cholesterol concentrations. With regard to LPA polymorphisms, LPA 93C>T polymorphism resulted to significantly affect Lp(a) circulating concentrations in a dose-dependent manner, with lower concentrations shown by subjects carrying the T rare allele, whereas no significant influence of LPA 121G>A polymorphism on Lp(a) concentrations was observed. Moreover, by analyzing the possible interplay between LPA 93C>T and dietary fish intake, a significant interaction between these two determinants in lowering Lp(a) concentrations was reported. In addition, lower Lp(a) concentrations were observed in subjects carrying the T allele of the LPA 93C>T polymorphism and consuming a high intake of fish with respect to those being in the highest tertile of fish consumption but homozygotes for the common allele of the polymorphism. In conclusion, this study reported a significant interaction of daily fish intake and LPA 93C>T polymorphism in decreasing Lp(a) concentrations.
Summary written by lp-a.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 18 August 2026. Methods.