Influence of genetic polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferases T1 and M1 on serum lipid parameters

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of genetic polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferase theta 1 (GSTT1) and GSTM1 on serum levels of lipid parameters.

METHODS: We conducted this cross-sectional study on 152 adult healthy subjects (54 females and 98 males) from June 2004 to September 2004. The participants in our study were recruited from the Research Clinic in Abarku (Yazd province, central part of Iran). There were unrelated Iranian Muslims. The genotypes of GSTT1 and GSTM1 were determined using a polymerase chain reaction based method. After an overnight fasting, serum lipid indices including triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured.

RESULTS: There were significant partial correlation coefficients between levels of TG (r= -0.4833, df=48, p<0.001) and TG/HDL-C ratio (r= -0.4041, df=48, p=0.004) and numbers of active GST genotypes in females after controlling for age and body mass index (BMI). In males, the level of TG increased as a function of numbers of active GST genotypes after controlling for age and BMI (r= +0.2082, df=94, p=0.042). There were significant differences between females and males.

CONCLUSION: Data show that genetic polymorphisms of GSTM1 and GSTT1 modulate levels of TG, and TG/HDL-C in females.