APOE Polymorphism in a Rural Older Population-Based Sample in India

Document Type

Article

Authors

B. K. Thelma, University of Delhi South Campus
Ramesh C. Juyal, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
Hiroko H. Dodge, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health
Rajesh Pandav, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and Centre for Ageing Research in India
Vijay Chandra, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and Centre for Ageing Research in India
Mary Ganguli, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and Universiy of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Abstract

Allele frequencies are most often reported from small convenience samples of unknown demographics and limited generalizability. We detenmned the distribution of apolipoprotein E genotype (APOE) and allele frequencies for a large, well-defined, representative, rural, population-based sample (11 = 4450) aged 55-95 years in Ballabgarh, in the northern Indian state of Haryana. The overall APOE E*2, E*3, and E*4 allele frequencies were 0.039, 0.887, and 0.073, respectively; frequencies are also reported by age, sex, and religious/caste groups. The APOE*4 frequency is among the lowest reported anywhere in the world. APOE allele frequencies did not vary significantly by age or sex in this study. To our knowledge, this is the largest Indian sample ever genotyped for the APOE polymorphism. The representativeness of the sample and its known demographics provide a much-needed normative background for studies of gene-disease associations.

Recommended Citation

Thelma, B. K.; Juyal, Ramesh C.; Dodge, Hiroko H.; Pandav, Rajesh; Chandra, Vijay; and Ganguli, Mary (2001) "APOE Polymorphism in a Rural Older Population-Based Sample in India," Human Biology: Vol. 73: Iss. 1, Article 10.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol/vol73/iss1/10