OBJECTIVETo study the frequency distribution in polymorphism of the apoprotein B 3' variable number tandem repeat (ApoB3'VNTR) and influence factors on hyperlipemia in civil aircrew.

METHODSApoB genotypes were determined by PCR technology and agarose gel electrophoresis. The blood lipids were measured by routine kits. Personal information of flight personnel was collected by questionnaire.

RESULTSPrevalence of the total dyslipidemia (49.5%) and overweight (55.6%) of flight personnel were much higher than that of domestic general population (29.2% and 49.1%) respectively (P < 0.05). There were 16 alleles and 54 kinds of genotypes of ApoB3'VNTR in the 682 flight personnel. The frequency distribution of alleles and genotypes of aircrew in the two air companies had same trend, which was different from the general population. The frequency of the homozygote was 76.54%, which was much higher than that of the other peoples home and abroad (21.50%). The frequency of the big allele (VNTR > or =39) in hyperlipemia groups were higher than that of normal groups. By analysis of co-variance, the body mass index (BMI), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and the total cholesterol(TC) increased with the cumulate flight hours (P < 0.05). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the BMI was the only factor influencing blood lipids, and the cumulate flight hours was only factors affecting the BMI. Taking the cumulate flight hours logarithm as the independent variable(X), and the BMI as dependent variable(Y), the linearity equations was: Y = 2.730X + 13.584 (R2 = 0.159, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThere are perhaps special genetic characteristics in the polymorphism of the ApoB3'VNTR in the aircrew. The big allele is correlated with the hyperlipemia. The flight burden not only directly affects the BMI and blood lipids levels, but also it can indirectly affect the lipids levels by BMI.